What does revealable mean?
Revealable is an adjective meaning capable of being revealed, disclosed, or otherwise made known. It describes information, facts, evidence, or details that can be disclosed, although it does not by itself establish that disclosure has occurred or will occur. The word is especially useful in legal, journalistic, investigative, and technical contexts, where distinctions are drawn between information that is secret, restricted, confidential, or revealable. For example, investigators may refer to details that are “readily revealable” through public records, while a court may determine that certain evidence is not revealable because of legal restrictions. In everyday speech, “able to be revealed” is often more natural, but revealable is useful when concision and a formal tone are desired. It is related in meaning and form to reveal and revelation.
adjectiveCapable of being revealed, disclosed, or made known. Often used to describe information that can be disclosed without necessarily implying that it has been revealed.
- Capable of being revealed, disclosed, or made known.
"The investigation uncovered several previously revealable details about the case."
"Sensitive but legally revealable information was withheld during the trial."
"The existence of the cache was readily revealable through routine document searches."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does revealable come from?
Revealable was formed from the English verb reveal, using the suffix -able to express the possibility of being revealed. Reveal comes through Old French from Latin revelare, formed from re- and velare, meaning “to unveil.” Its historical relatives include revelation and the noun reveler, while the related Latin root also underlies words concerned with disclosure and concealment.
How revealable is actually used
Relatively uncommon and more formal than the more natural expression 'able to be revealed.' It is especially common in legal, journalistic, and technical contexts.
Easily confused with revealable
Revealable means able to be disclosed or made known, whereas revolvable means able to be rotated, turned, or resolved.