-ible

1. variant of -able, occurring in words borrowed from Latin ( credible; horrible; visible ), or modeled on the Latin type ( reducible ).

-ible

suffix forming adjectives

1. a variant of -able

Derived Forms

• -ibly, suffix:forming_adverbs
• -ibility, suffix:forming_nouns

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ible¹

< Latin -ibil ( is ) or -ībil ( is ), equivalent to -i- or -ī- thematic vowel + -bilis -ble

Example Sentences

Explain what is meant by "corrupt principles"; a "corrupt judge."—Combine and define corrupt + ion; corrupt + ible; in + corrupt + ible.—What other part of speech than an adjective is "corrupt"?—What part of speech is it in the sentence "evil communications corrupt good manners"?

From Literature

Final e of a primitive word is dropped on taking a suffix beginning with a vowel: as, blame + able = blamable; guide + ance = guidance; come + ing = coming; force + ible = forcible; obscure + ity = obscurity.

From Literature

And that’s where we found Ible, a Taiwanese company that created a very specific kind of wearable.

From Washington Post

This holiday season, retail analysts say there has been a dis­cern­ible shift in gift-giving as Americans think beyond traditional presents.

From Washington Post

Shanmugam, who argues before federal appeals courts across the country, said more and more offer either live audio or same-day release of recordings, with no dis­cern­ible effect.

From Washington Post