legible
Americanadjective
-
capable of being read or deciphered, especially with ease, as writing or printing; easily readable.
-
capable of being discerned or distinguished.
Anger was legible in his looks and behavior.
adjective
-
(of handwriting, print, etc) able to be read or deciphered
-
able to be discovered; discernible
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of legible
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin legibilis; equivalent to leg(ere) “to read” + -ibilis -ible
Explanation
Legible describes readable print or handwriting. If someone tells you that your writing looks like "chicken scratch," it might not be legible, except to other chickens. Legible goes back to the Latin word legibilis, meaning "that can be read." If you can read someone's handwriting, it is legible. The person might not have perfect penmanship, but if you decipher the letters, the writing is legible. People's signatures are especially notorious for not being legible — that's why we often must print or type our names below.
Vocabulary lists containing legible
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Unit 4: Powerful Openings
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Marvels
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And these character details are legible but not conspicuous, letting the viewer keep their eyes on the story, rather than the trail of expositional breadcrumbs.
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
The plaque by the tree, just about legible despite years of erosion, reads:
From BBC ● May 2, 2026
On paper, they overlap on a lot—especially on affordability, a centerpiece of his campaign—but McMorrow is more legible to party leadership: governing experience, institutional familiarity, stronger fundraising.
From Slate ● Apr. 29, 2026
Visually speaking, it’s tighter and more legible than it could ever possibly feel from the field.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2026
As if to make things still more oppressive, M. Yoshoto’s handwriting was just barely legible.
From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
