What does explicable mean?
"Explicable" is a formal adjective describing something that can be explained or accounted for — a phenomenon, behavior, or event whose causes can be identified and made clear. It typically appears in contexts involving reasoning, science, or investigation: a puzzling result may prove "perfectly explicable" once new data emerges, or someone's odd conduct may turn out to be "readily explicable" in light of circumstances. The word carries a rational, measured tone, implying that mystery has yielded to understanding. It derives from the Latin explicare, meaning "to unfold or explain," which also produced "explicit" and "explanation." Its negative counterpart, "inexplicable," describing what defies explanation, is actually the more common form in everyday English. Writers favor "explicable" when they wish to emphasize clarity and accountability — the assurance that behind every apparent anomaly lies a discoverable reason. It remains a staple of academic prose, scientific reporting, and careful analytical writing.
adjectiveAble to be explained or accounted for; having a cause or reason that can be made clear.
- Capable of being explained or accounted for, especially by a known cause or reason.
"The delay in the results was explicable once the lab equipment failure came to light."
"Her sudden change of heart seemed strange at first but was perfectly explicable given the new evidence."
"The physicist argued that even the most puzzling phenomena would prove explicable with better instruments."
Despite looking like a fancy synonym for "explainable," "explicable" carries centuries of scholarly weight — it descends from the same Latin root that gave us "explicit."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of explicable
"Explicable" comes from the Latin explicabilis, meaning "that may be unfolded or explained," derived from the verb explicare, "to unfold, disentangle, or set forth clearly." This combines the prefix ex- ("out") with plicare ("to fold"). The word entered English in the late 16th to early 17th century, part of the wave of Latin borrowings that enriched learned vocabulary during the Renaissance. It shares its root with "explicit," "explicate," and "explanation," all tracing back to the same image of unfolding what was folded.
Related word forms
How explicable is actually used
"Explicable" is a formal word, more common in academic, scientific, and journalistic writing than in everyday conversation. It often appears modified by intensifiers such as "perfectly," "readily," or "easily." The negative form "inexplicable" is considerably more frequent in general usage.
Easily confused with explicable
"Implicit" means implied or understood without being stated, while "explicable" means capable of being explained.
"Explicate" is a verb meaning to analyze and explain in detail, whereas "explicable" is an adjective describing something that can be explained.