acceptable

[ ak-sep-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable or worthy of being accepted.
2. pleasing to the receiver; satisfactory; agreeable; welcome.
3. meeting only minimum requirements; barely adequate:

   an acceptable performance.

4. capable of being endured; tolerable; bearable:

   acceptable levels of radiation.

acceptable

/ əkˈsɛptəbəl /

adjective

1. satisfactory; adequate
2. pleasing; welcome
3. tolerable

Derived Forms

• acˈceptably, adverb
• acˌceptaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• ac·cepta·bili·ty ac·cepta·ble·ness noun
• ac·cepta·bly adverb
• unac·cepta·bili·ty noun
• unac·cepta·ble adjective
• unac·cepta·ble·ness noun
• unac·cepta·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of acceptable¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word acceptābilis. See accept, -able

Example Sentences

"There's no world in which you could have a robust environmental assessment that takes into account those downstream emissions and decide that those environmental impacts are acceptable," she told me.

From BBC

This included people who believed cannabis use wouldn't interfere with their responsibilities, or it was considered socially acceptable, so they would continue their consumption patterns.

From Science Daily

The trade-off between the risks and benefits of being tested is “very nuanced, very personal”, Prof Ahmed says, and what is acceptable to one man will be unacceptable to another.

From BBC

It adds that trade unions have already indicated that would not be an acceptable award.

From BBC

It doesn’t just impact your political decisions, such as Caitlyn deeming a potential child casualty as an acceptable sacrifice for her agenda.

From Salon

Related Words

• adequate
• common
• decent
• fair
• respectable
• sufficient
• tolerable