fungible

[ fuhn-juh-buhl ]

adjective

1. Law, Commerce. (especially of goods) being of such nature or kind as to be freely exchangeable or replaceable, in whole or in part, for another of like nature or kind:

   Appliances are usually fungible—that is, they can be replaced with cash or a similar item of equal value.

2. capable of being exchanged or interchanged; interchangeable:

   Neither ethanol nor biodiesel is fully fungible with petroleum-based fuels.

   Large corporations are likely to view both customers and employees as fungible, replaceable commodities.

fungible

/ ˈfʌndʒɪbəl /

noun

1. often plural moveable perishable goods of a sort that may be estimated by number or weight, such as grain, wine, etc

adjective

1. having the nature or quality of fungibles

Derived Forms

• ˌfungiˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• fun·gi·bil·i·ty [fuhn-j, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
• non·fun·gi·ble adjective
• un·fun·gi·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fungible¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Medieval Latin fungibilis, equivalent to Latin fung(ī) “to perform, discharge, execute” + -ibilis -ible

Word History and Origins

Origin of fungible¹

C18: from Medieval Latin fungibilis , from Latin fungī to perform; see function

Example Sentences

They judge their god-emperor on style rather than substance, and understand truth as an endlessly fungible cryptocurrency compared to wicked memes and liberal tears.

From Salon

That’s because, for him, ideas are an entirely fungible currency that he deploys primarily to maintain the attention and adulation of his — and it is increasingly his alone — GOP “base.”

From Salon

Critics say that money is fungible and the deal frees up Tehran to use other funds to build up its own military or to continue funding allies such as Hamas or Lebanon-based Hezbollah.

From Washington Times

The bill’s text argued that money “is fungible” and that releasing the frozen assets to Iran would “free up money to be spent on whatever.”

From Washington Times

“Your administration claims these funds are only available for humanitarian use, but money is fungible, and there is a significant risk they could be used to further efforts by Iran or Hamas against Israel.”

From Washington Times

Related Words

• compatible
• synonymous