What does ascertainable mean?
Ascertainable is an adjective describing something that can be discovered, determined, or established with certainty, particularly through investigation, inquiry, or careful examination of evidence. It derives from the verb 'ascertain', which entered English in the early seventeenth century from Old French 'acertainer', ultimately rooted in the Latin 'certus', meaning fixed or resolved. The word carries a formal register and appears most frequently in legal, financial, and academic contexts, where precision matters: courts may require that damages be ascertainable, auditors check whether figures are ascertainable from records, and researchers assess whether facts are ascertainable from available sources. A common collocation is 'not readily ascertainable', signalling that the truth exists but requires significant effort to uncover. The word's connotations are neutral and procedural rather than emotional; it implies that knowledge is attainable if one looks carefully enough. For writers who need to express the discoverability of a fact with authority and precision, ascertainable offers an elegant, well-established option.
adjectiveCapable of being discovered, determined, or established with certainty, especially through investigation or inquiry.
- Able to be discovered or determined with certainty by investigation or inquiry.
"The auditor confirmed that the exact cost of the project was ascertainable from the company's records."
"The court ruled that damages must be ascertainable at the time of the contract."
"Her motives were not readily ascertainable from her brief, guarded statements."
Legal documents love this word because it quietly asks a crucial question: can the truth about this actually be pinned down — or not?
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ascertainable
Ascertainable derives from the verb 'ascertain', which was adopted into English in the early seventeenth century from Anglo-Norman and Old French forms such as 'acertainer' or 'assartener', meaning to make certain. These trace back to the Latin adjective 'certus', meaning settled, fixed, or resolved — the same root that gives us 'certain', 'certainty', and related words like 'concert'. The adjectival form 'ascertainable', formed with the suffix '-able' to denote capability, has been used in English since roughly the same period, becoming especially entrenched in legal and administrative language.
Related word forms
How ascertainable is actually used
Predominantly used in formal registers, especially legal, financial, and academic writing. In everyday speech, simpler phrases like 'can be found out' are more common.
Easily confused with ascertainable
'Certain' means sure or definite in itself, while 'ascertainable' describes something that can be found out or established through effort.