legible

[ lej-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being read or deciphered, especially with ease, as writing or printing; easily readable.
2. capable of being discerned or distinguished:

   Anger was legible in his looks and behavior.

legible

/ ˈlɛdʒəbəl /

adjective

1. (of handwriting, print, etc) able to be read or deciphered
2. able to be discovered; discernible

Derived Forms

• ˌlegiˈbility, noun
• ˈlegibly, adverb

Other Words From

• leg·i·bly adverb
• un·leg·i·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of legible¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin legibilis; equivalent to leg(ere) “to read” + -ibilis -ible

Word History and Origins

Origin of legible¹

C14: from Late Latin legibilis, from Latin legere to read

Example Sentences

The former president’s most legible proposal in the closing days of the election may be removing fluoride from public water, which captures the utter incoherence of his big policy ideas.

From Slate

And speech in a range of settings is legible once more.

From Slate

But with the Pennsylvania event, we may have just skidded imperceptibly past sane-washing and directly into dance-washing, wherein the press need not even attempt to translate insane speeches and social media posts into legible ideas, because it’s vastly easier to simply watch him dance.

From Slate

“It kind of felt almost spiritual, like the way that it survived eight years and was still legible and my hair tie was still on the note,” she told the outlet.

From Los Angeles Times

Sky said it believed the presentation of the ad was clear, legible and immediately visible.

From BBC

Related Words

• coherent
• distinct
• intelligible
• lucid
• neat
• readable
• understandable