What does acceptable mean?
"Acceptable" is an adjective describing something that is good enough to be approved, tolerated, or permitted — meeting a required standard without necessarily being excellent. It operates on two main fronts: quality and social permission. A meal may be described as acceptable if it is edible and reasonably well made, while behavior is acceptable when it conforms to what society or a particular context deems proper. The word's connotation is notably measured: calling something acceptable often signals that it clears the bar but does not clear it by much, making it a favorite of diplomats, reviewers, and evaluators who wish to approve without enthusiasm. It derives from Latin "acceptare," meaning to receive willingly, entering English via Old French in the late medieval period. Its derivatives — acceptably, acceptability, and the powerful negative unacceptable — make it a versatile member of everyday vocabulary, especially in professional, legal, and educational settings where standards must be stated plainly.
adjectiveAble to be tolerated or allowed; satisfactory but not outstanding. Meeting a required or expected standard.
- Satisfactory; meeting a minimum standard of quality or adequacy (e.g. "an acceptable performance").
- Permissible or tolerable under social, moral, or legal norms (e.g. "behavior that is not socially acceptable").
- Willingly received or welcomed (a now less common sense, e.g. "an acceptable gift").
"The committee found the proposal acceptable, though far from ideal."
"The airline offered compensation that both parties found acceptable."
"Swearing in front of clients is simply not acceptable in this office."
Borrowed straight from Latin in the Middle Ages, "acceptable" has spent centuries as English's polite way of saying "good enough — barely."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of acceptable
"Acceptable" comes from Latin "acceptabilis," derived from "acceptare," a frequentative form of "accipere," meaning to take or receive willingly. The word passed into English through Old French "acceptable" during the late medieval period, with recorded use from around the fourteenth century. It shares its root with "accept," "acceptance," and "acceptor," all built on the same Latin stem, and is related to words like "conceive" and "receive" through the broader Latin verb "capere," meaning to take.
Related word forms
How acceptable is actually used
Neutral to slightly lukewarm in connotation: describing something as merely "acceptable" often implies it falls short of good or excellent. Common in formal and professional registers, especially in evaluations, negotiations, and standards documents. The negative "unacceptable" carries strong force and is frequently used in criticism or reprimands.
Easily confused with acceptable
"Exceptable" is not a standard English word; the correct form is "acceptable," while "except" is an unrelated verb meaning to exclude.