What does abatable mean?
Abatable is a formal adjective describing something capable of being abated — that is, reduced, diminished, or brought to an end. Its strongest and most established use is legal: an "abatable nuisance" is a nuisance, such as excessive noise, an offensive odor, or an obstructive structure, that can lawfully be removed or corrected rather than merely tolerated. In this sense the word signals that a wrong is remediable, placing responsibility on the party who can stop it. Beyond the courtroom, abatable appears occasionally in general writing to describe conditions, fears, or problems that can realistically be lessened, though such usage is uncommon. The word derives from the verb abate, which traces back through Anglo-Norman and Old French abatre, "to beat down," ultimately from Latin roots meaning to strike. Precise and somewhat technical in tone, it is best reserved for contexts where its exact, remedial sense adds clarity.
adjectiveCapable of being abated; able to be reduced, diminished, or brought to an end — especially of a nuisance, nuisance, or other legal wrong that can be stopped or removed by lawful action.
- (especially law) Of a nuisance or similar wrong: capable of being reduced, removed, or terminated by lawful action.
- More generally: capable of being lessened or diminished.
"The court found the noise complaint involved an abatable nuisance that the landlord was obliged to remedy."
"The judge ruled that the overhanging branches constituted an abatable nuisance requiring prompt removal."
"Her enthusiasm for the project proved far from abatable, persisting through every setback."
In law, an "abatable nuisance" is one you can legally fix yourself — a smell, noise, or obstruction the courts say shouldn't have to be lived with.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of abatable
Abatable is formed from the verb abate plus the suffix -able. The verb comes from Anglo-Norman and Old French abatre, meaning "to beat down or fell", formed from Latin ad- ("toward") and battere/batuere ("to beat"). This same root gives English a family of striking relatives, including combat, battle, and debate, all of which descend from the notion of beating or fighting. Abatable itself entered English as a legal derivative, used chiefly in property and tort law.
Related word forms
How abatable is actually used
Primarily a formal and legal term; outside legal contexts it is rare, and writers usually prefer phrasing with the verb "abate" instead.
Easily confused with abatable
"Debatable" means open to dispute or argument, while "abatable" means capable of being reduced or ended, especially in a legal sense.