passable
Americanadjective
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capable of being passed through, beyond, or over; fit to be traversed, penetrated, crossed, etc., as a road, forest, or stream.
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adequate; acceptable.
a passable knowledge of French.
- Synonyms:
- fair, tolerable, allowable, respectable, presentable
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capable of being circulated legally or having a valid currency, as a coin.
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capable of being or liable to be ratified or enacted.
passable legislation.
adjective
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adequate, fair, or acceptable
a passable speech
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(of an obstacle) capable of being passed or crossed
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(of currency) valid for general circulation
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(of a proposed law) able to be ratified or enacted
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of passable
1375–1425; late Middle English < Middle French; see pass, -able
Explanation
Something you can physically cross is passable. A passable trail through the woods isn't blocked by obstacles like fallen trees or flooded streams. After a hurricane, the roads you normally travel may not be passable because of dangling power lines or tree branches. This definition dates from the fifteenth century, literally meaning "able to be passed" or "able to be crossed." A later meaning of passable is "acceptable." You can use this word to describe things that aren't wonderful, but are good enough: "It's not the moistest cake I've ever tasted, but it's passable."
Vocabulary lists containing passable
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.
But for years, I stayed in the realm of passable.
From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026
For investors, the critical question is when the Strait of Hormuz will be passable with lowered risk given the growing economic toll around the world.
From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026
There are some communities, particularly in the mountains, where roads aren’t passable in the winter even in a four-wheel-drive pickup, Norton said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026
Euan Scott, from the firm's north west unit, said it was doing all it could to keep routes passable despite "very challenging weather conditions".
From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026
Anya had never taken the trail farther than a few yards off the road, so she hoped it was passable farther north.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
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.
