What does knowable mean?
Knowable is an adjective describing something that can be known, understood, or determined through evidence, reasoning, experience, or investigation. It does not mean that something is already understood; rather, it emphasizes that understanding is possible. The word is especially useful in formal, philosophical, and analytical contexts, where writers may contrast what is knowable with what remains obscure, unknowable, or beyond the reach of current methods. A fact can be knowable in principle but difficult to establish in practice, while a subject such as the weather may be partially knowable because its general patterns can be understood even though individual events cannot be predicted perfectly. In ordinary speech, understandable or comprehensible are often more natural substitutes, but knowable conveys a more precise focus on the possibility of knowledge itself.
adjectiveCapable of being known, understood, or determined. A knowable fact or subject is accessible to knowledge or investigation.
- Capable of being known, understood, or determined.
- Limited enough in scope or complexity to be understood or investigated.
"The investigators concluded that the cause of the fire was knowable, despite the extensive damage."
"The extent of the damage was knowable only after the site had been surveyed."
"For many students, the rules of the game become knowable with enough practice."
What looks unknowable may simply be knowable through better evidence, sharper questions, or a different way of seeing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does knowable come from?
Knowable was formed in the early 19th century from know plus the suffix -able, meaning “capable of being known.” It belongs to the same English and Latin-derived knowledge family as cognition, recognize, and acknowledge, all of which reflect the idea of knowing or coming to know. The suffix has been widely used in English to form adjectives from verbs, as in workable, readable, and answerable.
Related word forms
How knowable is actually used
The adjective is especially common in formal and philosophical writing, as in discussions of knowable facts, laws, or realities. It is less common in everyday conversation than understandable or comprehensible.
Easily confused with knowable
Knowable means capable of being understood or determined, whereas unknowable means beyond human knowledge or comprehension.