submersible

[ suhb-mur-suh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being submersed. submersed.
2. capable of functioning while submersed: submersed:

   a submersible pump.

noun

1. a ship capable of submerging and operating under water; submarine.
2. a device designed for underwater work or exploration, as a bathyscaphe or diving bell.

submersible

/ səbˈmɜːdʒɪbəl; səbˈmɜːsəbəl /

adjective

1. able to be submerged
2. capable of operating under water, etc

noun

1. a vessel designed to operate under water for short periods
2. a submarine taking one or more men that is designed and equipped to carry out work in deep water below the levels at which divers can work

Derived Forms

• subˌmersiˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• sub·mersi·bili·ty noun
• nonsub·mersi·ble adjective
• unsub·mersi·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of submersible¹

First recorded in 1865–70; submerse + -ible

Example Sentences

“Stockton Rush was convinced that if there was an imminent failure of the submersible, they would get an audio warning on that system,” explains Victor Vescovo, a leading deep sea explorer.

From BBC

US court documents from 2018 show that Lochridge had identified numerous “serious safety concerns” and the lack of testing could “subject passengers to potential extreme danger in an experimental submersible”.

From BBC

“I told him, in no uncertain terms, that he should not get in the submersible,” he said.

From BBC

It was the submersible that promised passengers the trip of a lifetime.

From BBC

The crew from Romeo’s company, Deep Sea Vision, had piloted their state-of-the-art submersible closer to the possible wreckage.

From Los Angeles Times