What does recoverable mean?
Recoverable means that something can be regained, restored, retrieved, or reclaimed, or that a person is capable of recovering. The most common use describes information, money, resources, or losses that can be recovered after they have been misplaced, destroyed, or lost: “The deleted photographs were recoverable from the backup.” In business and legal contexts, recoverable debt or recoverable costs refer to amounts that may be recouped. The word can also describe a person, injury, or situation as capable of recovery. Its connotation is generally hopeful: it indicates that the loss or damage is serious but not necessarily permanent. Recoverable is especially useful when discussing data, finances, natural resources, and health.
Able to be recovered, retrieved, restored, or reclaimed.
"The engineers worked to determine how much of the aircraft was recoverable."
Common in technical, financial, legal, and administrative contexts.
Able to recover from illness, injury, hardship, or emotional difficulty.
"The doctors said that the patient was stable and recoverable."
Often used of injuries, conditions, and people in medical or biographical contexts.
Recoverable is the word that separates a lost file from a lost cause: it promises that recovery is still possible.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does recoverable come from?
Recoverable was formed in the 16th century from the English verb recover and the suffix -able. Recover itself comes through Old French recoverer, from Latin recuperare, meaning “to regain” or “to retrieve,” and ultimately from re- plus capere, “to take.” Related English forms include recovery and recuperate, which reflect the same Latin foundation.
Related word forms
How recoverable is actually used
The word is formal and common in technical, financial, legal, and medical contexts. It often implies that a loss or problem is not permanently irreversible.
Easily confused with recoverable
Recoverable describes something that can be recovered, while recovered describes something that has already been regained or restored.
Recoverable means able to be recovered or able to recover, while recuperative describes something that aids recovery or restores health and strength.