colorable

[ kuhl-er-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being colored.
2. seemingly valid, true, or genuine; plausible.
3. pretended; deceptive.

Other Words From

• color·a·bili·ty color·a·ble·ness noun
• color·a·bly adverb
• noncol·or·a·bili·ty noun
• non·color·a·ble adjective
• non·color·a·ble·ness noun
• non·color·a·bly adverb
• pre·color·a·ble adjective
• un·color·a·ble adjective
• un·color·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of colorable¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; color, -able

Example Sentences

“We are very happy that the court has acknowledged that the plaintiffs have brought colorable constitutional claims forward,” said Mike Laux, an attorney for the teachers and students who filed suit.

From Seattle Times

“And I think Florida State knows that as well. I think they threw in anything they could potentially think of as a colorable argument to get them out of the grant-of-rights agreement.”

From Washington Times

Thus, she asserted, the Georgia senator does not have any applicable "colorable federal defense."

From Salon

To get removal, a federal officer must show that the indicted conduct is both under the auspices of his official duties and "a colorable federal defense," meaning it can defeat the charge.

From Salon

"A defense is not 'colorable' unless it is capable of defeating the count. And on this argument, it's not just that Willis 'gets the better of it.' Meadows lawyers didn't even get to it," he concluded.

From Salon