legible

American  

[lej-uh-buhl] / ˈlɛdʒ ə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being read or deciphered, especially with ease, as writing or printing; easily readable.

2. capable of being discerned or distinguished.

   Anger was legible in his looks and behavior.

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legible British  

/ ˈlɛdʒəbəl /

adjective

1. (of handwriting, print, etc) able to be read or deciphered

2. able to be discovered; discernible

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Other Word Forms

• legibility noun
• legibly adverb
• unlegible adjective

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.

Example Sentences

Romantic effort becomes legible not only to your partner but often to a broader social world.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

A "for sale" sign is barely legible at the top, its letters faded by sun and salt air.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

Though the paper was wet, both letters were still legible, so Ms Brown began tracking down the soldiers' families in order to pass them on.

From BBC • Oct. 29, 2025

The bandmates dressed in secondhand suits that made them look posh to some and, perhaps more damningly, refused to flatten their class identity into something easily legible.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 2, 2025

The lettering was minute, but jet-black and passionately legible, if just a trifle fancy in spots, and without blots or erasures.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• coherent
• distinct
• intelligible
• lucid
• neat
• readable
• understandable