What does malleable mean?
Malleable describes something that can be shaped, bent, or hammered without breaking, as with soft metals such as gold, copper, or lead. The word also has a figurative meaning: a person, organization, or position that is easily influenced, persuaded, or manipulated. For example, a politician with a malleable stance may readily adopt the preferences of others, while a malleable material can be pressed into a desired form. The physical sense is neutral and technical, while the figurative sense often suggests a lack of firmness or independence and may carry a mildly disparaging tone. Malleable is useful in both technical and political writing because it connects the familiar idea of being physically shaped with the broader idea of yielding to external influence.
adjectiveAble to be bent, hammered, or otherwise shaped without breaking. Figuratively, easily influenced, persuaded, or manipulated.
- Able to be bent, hammered, pressed, or otherwise shaped without breaking.
- Easily influenced, persuaded, directed, or manipulated.
"The soft metal was highly malleable and could be shaped into a thin sheet."
"Copper is relatively malleable, so it can be beaten into thin sheets without breaking."
"The young politician's malleable position made him easy for rival parties to sway."
Malleable comes from a hard place: Latin malleus means “hammer.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does malleable come from?
The word entered English in the early 17th century from Latin malleabilis, meaning “hammerable” or “able to be hammered.” It derives from malleare, “to hammer,” which in turn comes from malleus, the Latin word for “hammer.” The same root underlies English words such as malleate, malleation, and malleting.
Related word forms
How malleable is actually used
The word is formal to neutral. Its figurative use is common in discussions of politics, negotiations, and personal conduct, where it often carries a mildly critical implication of being too easily influenced. In the physical sense, it describes a material that can be shaped by pressure rather than merely bent.