What does discussable mean?
Discussable is an adjective meaning capable of being discussed — that is, open to conversation, examination, or debate. It describes subjects, questions, or proposals that are permissible or appropriate to raise rather than off-limits or already settled. For example, one might say that a company's restructuring plans were still discussable before final approval, or praise a workplace culture in which even sensitive matters are discussable. The word carries a neutral, matter-of-fact tone: unlike its more common synonym 'debatable', it does not imply genuine disagreement or uncertainty, only that dialogue is possible. Formed from the verb 'discuss' with the suffix '-able', it has existed since at least the early seventeenth century but remains comparatively rare, appearing mostly in formal or deliberative contexts such as meetings, negotiations, and academic prose.
adjectiveCapable of being discussed; open to consideration or debate.
- Open to being discussed or debated; suitable for consideration in conversation or deliberation.
"The committee agreed that the budget proposal was still discussable at the next meeting."
"Whether the policy should be revised remains fully discussable among the board members."
"In an open workplace, even difficult topics are considered discussable."
Though it's been around for centuries, 'discussable' is so rarely used that many spell-checkers flag it — most writers reach for 'debatable' instead.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of discussable
Discussable derives from the verb 'discuss', which entered English from Latin 'discutere', literally meaning 'to strike apart' or 'to shatter'. In medieval and early modern use, 'discuss' came to mean examining or debating a matter thoroughly, and the suffix '-able' was added to form the adjective indicating that something admits of such examination. It shares this Latin root with words like 'discussion', 'percussion', and 'concussion', all built on the verb 'quatere', 'to shake or strike'.
How discussable is actually used
Discussable is a legitimate but relatively uncommon adjective; in everyday writing it often competes with the more frequent 'debatable', which carries a stronger implication of doubt or controversy. 'Discussable' is neutral and simply indicates that a topic can be raised and talked about.
Easily confused with discussable
Disputable means open to being challenged or called into doubt, while discussable simply means something may be talked about.