What does tolerable mean?
Tolerable means able to be tolerated, endured, or accepted, especially without being especially good or satisfying. In careful, formal contexts, it may describe a level of discomfort, risk, noise, delay, or inconvenience that people can reasonably put up with. It can also function as a restrained evaluative adjective, as in describing a performance as “tolerable,” meaning that the performance is acceptable but not impressive. This use often carries a faintly critical or dismissive tone, although the severity depends heavily on context. Tolerable should not be confused with tolerant: the former describes what can be accepted, while the latter describes someone willing to accept differences or difficult behavior. The word is common in formal and professional English, including discussions of safety limits, acceptable conditions, and standards of quality. Its usefulness lies in its measured nuance: it expresses acceptance without enthusiasm and endurance without suggesting that the situation is pleasant.
adjectiveAble to be tolerated or endured; acceptable, especially only to a limited degree.
- Able to be tolerated or endured without being unacceptable.
- Merely acceptable or passable, especially as a restrained assessment of quality or performance.
"The noise in the classroom was tolerable, although it made concentration difficult."
"The delay was tolerable, and the work continued without serious disruption."
"Her performance was tolerable, though it fell short of the standard she had established."
Tolerable comes from the same Latin root as tolerate and tolerance: it literally means something that can be borne.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tolerable come from?
Tolerable derives from Latin tolerabilis, meaning bearable or acceptable, which was formed from tolerare, “to bear” or “endure.” The same Latin root underlies related English words such as tolerate, tolerance, and tolerant. The adjective therefore describes something that can be borne or accepted.
Related word forms
How tolerable is actually used
The word is formal and often sounds deliberately restrained or mildly dismissive. It can mean genuinely bearable, but it frequently implies that something is only just acceptable or of merely adequate quality.
Easily confused with tolerable
Tolerable describes something that can be accepted or endured, whereas tolerant describes a person who accepts differing views or behavior.