legible

American  

[lej-uh-buhl] / ˈlɛdʒ ə bəl /

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.

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legible British  

/ ˈlɛdʒəbəl /

adjective

1. (of handwriting, print, etc) able to be read or deciphered

2. able to be discovered; discernible

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Other Word Forms

• legibility noun
• legibly adverb
• unlegible adjective

Etymology

Origin of legible

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

Explanation

Legible describes readable print or handwriting. If someone tells you that your writing looks like "chicken scratch," it might not be legible, except to other chickens. Legible goes back to the Latin word legibilis, meaning "that can be read." If you can read someone's handwriting, it is legible. The person might not have perfect penmanship, but if you decipher the letters, the writing is legible. People's signatures are especially notorious for not being legible — that's why we often must print or type our names below.

Example Sentences

Even so, many of the most memorable moments come in the form of cogent micro-essays, smartly curated ensembles of work bearing a legible, lucid premise.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Its opening sequence is both graceful and conspicuous; its exposition is entirely legible, yet so very charming that its plainness doesn’t matter one bit.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

For Justin Gausman, who co-hosts TCBCast, a podcast devoted to Presley, one of the movie’s triumphs is that it makes the singer’s “artistic process legible and accessible to anyone.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

A "for sale" sign is barely legible at the top, its letters faded by sun and salt air.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

A single word was barely legible on the frame, written by hand in black ink: Kraken.

From "The Marvels" by Brian Selznick

Related Words

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