interchangeable

[in-ter-cheyn-juh-buhl]

adjective

1. (of two things) capable of being put or used in the place of each other.

   interchangeable symbols.

2. (of one thing) capable of replacing or changing places with something else.

   an interchangeable part.

Other Word Forms

• interchangeability noun
• interchangeableness noun
• interchangeably adverb
• noninterchangeability noun
• noninterchangeable adjective
• noninterchangeableness noun
• uninterchangeable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of interchangeable¹

First recorded in 1400–50; interchange + -able; replacing late Middle English entrechaungeable, from Middle French entrechangeable

Synonym Study

See exchangeable.

Example Sentences

Some officials view the December and January meetings as largely interchangeable, making the year-end deadline feel somewhat artificial.

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Many teams treat it as an interchangeable slot which should not be showered with money or acquired via high draft picks; a few see transformational value in a marquee back at the right time.

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Fungibility refers to the idea of being replaceable and interchangeable.

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Restrictive and unrestrictive clauses were mostly interchangeable for the rest of us.

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The guard positions and center are more interchangeable, but when you start messing with your tackles, especially your left tackle, that’s a problem.”

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Related Words

• compatible 
• synonymous