What does foldable mean?
Foldable describes something that can be folded — bent or creased along a line — so that it becomes smaller, flatter, or easier to carry and store. The word applies most often to practical objects designed with portability in mind: foldable chairs, foldable bicycles, foldable umbrellas, and foldable maps were all familiar long before the term took on a technological meaning. In recent years, "foldable" has become one of the defining words of consumer electronics, applied to smartphones with hinged, flexible displays that open like a book to reveal a larger screen. In this context it even functions as a noun, with shoppers speaking simply of buying "a foldable." The word carries broadly positive connotations of convenience, space-saving design, and engineering ingenuity, though early flexible-screen devices also attracted criticism for durability concerns. Simple, descriptive, and increasingly prominent, "foldable" bridges everyday household language and cutting-edge product design.
Able to be folded, especially so as to occupy less space.
"The table is foldable, so it can be stored flat against the wall."
Also used since the late 2010s of electronic devices with flexible displays that fold along a hinge.
A device, especially a smartphone, whose screen can be folded open and closed.
"He upgraded from his old handset to one of the latest foldables."
Used mainly in consumer-technology journalism and marketing; usually pluralized informally as "foldables."
Applies only to the noun sense referring to foldable devices; the adjective does not inflect.
"Foldables are becoming cheaper, but their screens remain fragile."
The word 'foldable' existed for centuries before tech companies borrowed it in the 2010s to name an entirely new kind of phone.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of foldable
Foldable is formed from the verb "fold," an ancient English word attested in Old English (as faldan), combined with the suffix "-able," which comes from Latin through Old French and marks capability. The compound therefore has mixed roots: a Germanic base with a Romance-derived suffix, a pattern common throughout English. Its modern prominence dates from the twentieth century, and it gained fresh currency in the late 2010s when manufacturers adopted it for phones with bendable screens.
Related word forms
How foldable is actually used
"Foldable" is a common, neutral term in everyday speech and commerce. Since the late 2010s it has also been used as a countable noun in consumer electronics, where "a foldable" means a foldable phone or tablet.
Easily confused with foldable
"Folding" typically describes something that folds or is in the act of folding, while "foldable" describes something capable of being folded.