What does supposable mean?
Supposable is a formal adjective meaning that something can be supposed, assumed, or imagined as possible. It describes an idea or proposition that is not necessarily likely or true, but that can be considered without being logically impossible. For example, one may say that an unlikely explanation is supposable while emphasizing that no evidence supports it. The word is related to “suppose” and “supposition,” but it does not itself mean supposed or presumed. In contemporary English it is uncommon, and its use often sounds abstract, academic, or old-fashioned. It is useful when the focus is on whether a possibility can be entertained at all, rather than on how probable that possibility is.
adjectiveCapable of being supposed or assumed; able to be regarded as possible or believable in principle.
- Able to be supposed or assumed; possible or conceivable in principle.
"It is supposable, though not especially likely, that the meeting will be postponed."
"The hypothesis is supposable, but there is still no evidence for it."
"It is supposable that the theory will need to be revised."
Supposable marks the boundary between what can be imagined and what is actually believed to be true.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does supposable come from?
“Supposable” was formed in English by adding the suffix “-able” to “suppose,” giving it the meaning “able to be supposed.” “Suppose” comes through Old French from Latin “supponere,” originally “to put under” and later “to put forward as an assumption.” The related words “supposition,” “suppositional,” and “presuppose” belong to the same Latin-derived family.
How supposable is actually used
This is a relatively formal and uncommon adjective. It is usually used in statements about what is conceivable in principle, rather than to describe an ordinary probability.
Easily confused with supposable
“Supposed” means presumed or imagined, while “supposable” means capable of being supposed or assumed.