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

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

The current best performing brands are those that "don't rely on buzzy microtrends", she added, but provide "interchangeable pieces rather than seasonally targeted drops".

From BBC

The cult of wealth makes people interchangeable, women especially.

From Salon

Even if the board had opted for the NAEP-style labels, they would not have been interchangeable across the tests.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• compatible 
• synonymous