What does tameable mean?
Tameable means capable of being tamed, especially with respect to an animal that is wild, independent, or potentially dangerous. It describes possibility rather than an existing state: a tameable animal may become accustomed to human handling, whereas a tame animal is already manageable. The word is often used with animals such as horses, elephants, or wild species, but it can also describe land or territory that can be brought under cultivation or control. In figurative use, “tameable” may suggest that something difficult, unfamiliar, or threatening can be made manageable. The standard spelling is “tameable,” while “tamable” is also accepted. The related form “tameability” names the quality of being tameable.
adjectiveCapable of being tamed; able to be brought under human control or made less wild and aggressive.
- Capable of being tamed.
- Capable of being subdued or brought under control.
- Used of a place or environment: able to be made more orderly, settled, or suitable for human use.
"The young horse was tameable enough for a beginner to handle."
"The zoo is searching for a tameable young elephant."
"The valley was tameable enough for farming, despite its harsh terrain."
"Her fear of the unfamiliar was not entirely tameable."
A tameable animal is not necessarily tame; it is an animal that can learn to live under human control.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tameable come from?
The word combines the English adjective “tame” with the suffix “-able,” meaning “capable of being” or “able to be.” “Tame” comes through Middle English from Old English tam, meaning docile or domesticated. The suffix “-able” entered English through French and ultimately derives from Latin forms such as -abilis, which expressed capability or possibility.
Related word forms
How tameable is actually used
The adjective is most often used with animals, especially wild animals or animals that might become dangerous. It can also be applied more broadly to land, territory, or an abstract situation, though this usage is less common.
Easily confused with tameable
“Tameable” and “tamable” are variant spellings of the same adjective, although “tameable” is the more common form in British and American English.