serviceable
Americanadjective
-
capable of or being of service; useful.
- Synonyms:
- functional, usable, effective
-
wearing well; durable.
serviceable cloth.
-
capable of being used, worn, cleaned, repaired, etc., easily.
adjective
-
capable of or ready for service; usable
-
capable of giving good service; durable
-
archaic diligent in service
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of serviceable
1300–50; service 1 + -able; replacing Middle English servisable < Middle French
Explanation
When something is serviceable, it's useful just the way it is. You might describe your rusty old car as perfectly serviceable if it always gets you where you need to go. If your eccentric grandmother insists on buying you a full-length fur coat, you could argue that all you need is a serviceable winter jacket — simply one that will do its job and keep you warm. On the other hand, you might long for a beautiful pair of leather boots despite having a serviceable pair of rubber galoshes. Serviceable was spelled the same way in Old English, although it originally meant "willing to be of service," and only later came to mean "usable or useful."
Vocabulary lists containing serviceable
List 7
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!
List 6
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!
Excerpts from and adaptations of "Twelfth Night"
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.
“I love competing. As long as I feel I’m serviceable and not just here for entertainment purposes, I’m going to keep doing it.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026
"Its downsides include high programme and development risks, and long realistic timeframes until any serviceable aircraft might be delivered, compared to alternatives that already exist," Bronk said.
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
Coherent, meanwhile, said its own serviceable addressable market could stand at more than $70 billion by the end of the decade.
From Barron's ● Mar. 24, 2026
That project would have served as a serviceable foundation for a career that expanded into more meaningful social critique, but Mr. Arsham has continued to rely on the same gimmick for over a decade.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026
My first cut was serviceable, but when I tried to make the interior angled cut, the tool wobbled and jammed.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
