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programmable

American

[proh-gram-uh-buhl, proh-gram-] / ˈproʊ græm ə bəl, proʊˈgræm- /

Or programable

adjective

capable of being programmed.

noun

an electronic device, as a calculator or telephone, that can be programmed to perform specific tasks.

programmable British

/ prəʊˈɡræməbəl /

adjective

(esp of a device or operation) capable of being programmed for automatic operation or computer processing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of programmable

First recorded in 1955–60; program + -able

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.

See Examples For:

programmable

They’re the world’s smallest, fully programmable, autonomous devices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Together, these changes created a new design principle for programmable photonic integrated circuits.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026

Or, use a smart thermostat: A programmable or smart thermostat automates the heavy lifting, raising temperatures when you’re at work and dropping them right before you walk through the door.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026

These purpose-built technologies include programmable liquid-cooling and rack-control appliances.

From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026

Babbage designed schematics for a programmable computer, something that could process mathematical equations in place of the human mind.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023