arguable
Americanadjective
-
susceptible to debate, challenge, or doubt; questionable.
Whether this is the best plan of action or not is arguable.
-
susceptible to being supported by convincing or persuasive argument.
Admirers agree that it is arguable he is the finest pianist of his generation.
adjective
-
capable of being disputed; doubtful
-
capable of being supported by argument; plausible
Other Word Forms
- arguably adverb
- nonarguable adjective
- unarguable adjective
- unarguably adverb
Etymology
Origin of arguable
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It's also arguable that the party would have a better idea of it than anyone, given the money was allegedly embezzled from their own coffers.
From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026
“He may want you to do something that is, you know, is arguable whether it’s the right path to go, but it’s a very rational approach to it.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026
Whether or not Stone’s film was successful in that respect is arguable, but Kilmer’s performance as The Doors’ frontman certainly is not.
From Salon • Apr. 2, 2025
Mr Justice McAlinden said: "There is no arguable case with a reasonable prospect of success."
From BBC • Dec. 10, 2024
It is arguable that 2 + 2 will equal 4 in any universe; and, surely, levers and balances would work in the same way in any universe.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
