intelligible

[ in-tel-i-juh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being understood; comprehensible; clear:

   an intelligible response.

   Synonyms: coherent, lucid, distinct

2. Philosophy. apprehensible by the mind only; conceptual.

intelligible

/ ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəbəl /

adjective

1. able to be understood; comprehensible
2. philosophy
   1. capable of being apprehended by the mind or intellect alone
   2. (in metaphysical systems such as those of Plato or Kant) denoting that metaphysical realm which is accessible to the intellect as opposed to the world of mere phenomena accessible to the senses

Derived Forms

• inˌtelligiˈbility, noun
• inˈtelligibly, adverb

Other Words From

• in·telli·gi·ble·ness noun
• in·telli·gi·bly adverb
• half-in·telli·gi·ble adjective
• half-in·telli·gi·bly adverb
• self-in·telli·gi·ble adjective
• semi-in·telli·gi·ble adjective
• semi-in·telli·gi·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of intelligible¹

1350–1400; Middle English from Latin intelligibilis, equivalent to intellig- ( intelligent ) + -ibilis -ible

Word History and Origins

Origin of intelligible¹

C14: from Latin intellegibilis; see intellect

Example Sentences

The casting of deaf and hearing actors — one to embody and emotionalize a character, the other to sing, speak and jam — fails to harmonize into a resonant or even intelligible interpretation.

From Los Angeles Times

His performance during the CNN debate — in which he gave rambling answers in a quiet, at times barely intelligible voice, while his opponent delivered lies and racially charged rhetoric with comparable vigor — opened a flood of questions about his fitness to serve, and crucially, his chances of winning in November.

From Salon

Watching a Trump speech in full better shows what it’s like inside his head: a smorgasbord of falsehoods, personal and professional vendettas, frequent comparisons to other famous people, a couple of handfuls of simple policy ideas, and a lot of non sequiturs that veer into barely intelligible stories….

From Salon

Elora Forshee, director of Sedgwick County Emergency Communications, has said Bedeski’s call was not intelligible enough for the dispatcher to understand that she was trapped.

From Seattle Times

They make the world intelligible to people.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• comprehensible