discernible

or dis·cern·a·ble

[ dih-sur-nuh-buhl, -zur- ]

adjective

1. capable of being discerned; distinguishable.

discernible

/ dɪˈsɜːnəbəl /

adjective

1. able to be discerned; perceptible

Derived Forms

• disˈcernibly, adverb

Other Words From

• dis·cerni·ble·ness dis·cerna·ble·ness noun
• dis·cerni·bly dis·cerna·bly adverb
• undis·cerna·ble adjective
• undis·cerna·bly adverb
• undis·cerni·ble adjective
• undis·cerni·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of discernible¹

1555–65; < Latin discernibilis ( discern, -ible ); replacing earlier discernable < Middle French, equivalent to discern ( er ) to discern + -able -able

Example Sentences

At the top, deck looks like a moonscape, and the roar of rushing cars and trucks was barely discernible, thanks to the thick, 12-foot-tall sound walls on either side of the structure, which is slightly wider than an American football field and about three-quarters its length.

From Los Angeles Times

The video is grainy, but Dave Roberts’ thin mustache and Aaron Boone’s peach fuzz are discernible.

From Los Angeles Times

Human interplanetary exploration will be more dangerous and more costly, especially if robots can do the work, and the lack of a discernible economic return a greater obstacle.

From Los Angeles Times

The aide said that guys like me were 'in what we call the reality-based community,' which he defined as people who 'believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.'

From Salon

The department’s director told the Columbus Dispatch that his agency hasn’t seen any “measurable or discernible increase” in vaccine-preventable illnesses, a category that includes TB.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apparent
• appreciable
• audible
• detectable
• distinguishable
• noticeable
• observable
• obvious
• palpable
• perceptible
• visible