observable

[ uhb-zur-vuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being or liable to be observed; noticeable; visible; discernible:

   an observable change in attitude.

2. worthy or important enough to be celebrated, followed, or observed:

   an observable holiday.

3. deserving of attention; noteworthy.

observable

/ əb-zûr′və-bəl /

1. A measurable property of a physical system, such as mass or momentum. In quantum mechanics, observables correspond to mathematical operators used in the calculation of measurable quantities. Operators that do not commute , having a nonzero commutator , correspond to observables that cannot be precisely measured at the same time, such as momentum and position.
2. See also uncertainty principle

Other Words From

• ob·serva·bili·ty ob·serva·ble·ness noun
• ob·serva·bly adverb
• nonob·serva·ble adjective
• nonob·serva·bly adverb
• unob·serva·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of observable¹

1600–10; < Latin observābilis remarkable, equivalent to observā ( re ) to observe + -bilis -ble

Example Sentences

As the authors of one 2016 paper on convergence at both the molecular and the more observable, morphological level put it, “convergence is caused by either repeated adaptations of different evolutionary lineages to similar environmental challenges or chance.”

From Salon

Trump's swipe at his host city follows an observable pattern: Just days before the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, he called the place a "horrible city."

From Salon

By contrast, "central bureaucracies may be better suited to prioritize long-term outcomes, which can be advantageous for policies requiring sustained efforts or where the outcomes are less observable to the public. This management-driven approach can lead to greater effectiveness in areas that require long-term planning and investment, although it may also result in a disconnect from the immediate preferences of the public."

From Salon

"Across all of these animal models, we have consistent, reproducible results without any observable fibrotic capsule."

From Science Daily

As anybody who has played with a balloon likely knows, a weak electric field can exert an observable force on a living organism.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• appreciable
• detectable
• discernible
• noticeable
• perceptible