What does admissible mean?
Admissible is an adjective describing something that may be admitted, accepted, or allowed under a given set of rules. Its dominant modern use is legal: evidence is admissible if it can lawfully be presented and considered by a court, having satisfied procedural requirements such as relevance and proper collection. Beyond the courtroom, the word extends to any context governed by formal criteria — an applicant may be admissible to a program, a solution admissible within a mathematical model, or a claim admissible under an insurance policy. The word carries a formal, institutional register and implies the existence of standards against which acceptance is judged; what is admissible is not merely tolerated but officially permitted. Its negative counterpart, inadmissible, is equally common in legal discourse. Derived from Latin roots meaning 'to send to' or 'to allow entry,' admissible captures the idea of something granted passage through a gatekeeping process.
adjectiveAcceptable or valid, especially as evidence in a legal proceeding; able to be admitted or allowed under established rules.
- (of evidence, testimony, etc.) acceptable in a court of law according to rules of procedure
- (more generally) worthy of being admitted, accepted, or allowed
"The judge ruled that the recording was admissible evidence in the trial."
"The prosecution argued that the DNA sample was admissible despite the chain-of-custody concerns."
"Only admissible candidates — those meeting the minimum qualifications — were invited to interview."
In courtrooms, the difference between justice and a mistrial can hinge on whether one piece of evidence is deemed 'admissible.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of admissible
Admissible derives from the Latin verb 'admittere' (to admit, allow entrance), formed from 'ad-' (toward) and 'mittere' (to send). It entered English via French in the early 17th century, initially carrying the general sense of 'worthy of being admitted' before narrowing toward its now-dominant legal usage. It shares its Latin root with words such as admission, mission, and missive, all stemming from 'mittere.'
Related word forms
How admissible is actually used
Predominantly formal and most frequently encountered in legal contexts. Outside of law, it appears mainly in academic, administrative, or technical writing where criteria for acceptance are being discussed.
Easily confused with admissible
'Admissive' is a rare adjective meaning inclined to admit, whereas 'admissible' means capable of being admitted or accepted.