opposable

[ uh-poh-zuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being placed opposite to something else:

   the opposable thumb of primates.

2. capable of being resisted, fought, or opposed.

opposable

/ əˈpəʊzəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being opposed
2. Alsoapposable (of the thumb of primates, esp man) capable of being moved into a position facing the other digits so as to be able to touch the ends of each
3. capable of being placed opposite something else

Derived Forms

• opˈposably, adverb
• opˌposaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• op·posa·bili·ty noun
• nonop·posa·ble adjective
• unop·posa·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of opposable¹

First recorded in 1660–70; oppose + -able

Example Sentences

And like everything else on this barbaric planet, they were designed for opposable thumbs.

From Literature

In fact, the scientists did not grab the treat with their second hand, therefore leading those monkeys that had opposable thumbs to be surprised when discovering it was still in the first hand.

From Salon

“A thumb, yes, because the opposable thumb is what differentiates us from beasts.”

From New York Times

Davy’s social media manager — presumably someone with aligned values and opposable thumbs — reacted to several news items during the season.

From Seattle Times

Similarly a 2021 study in the scientific journal "Current Biology" transformed our understanding of pterosaurs by revealing the existence of a so-called "monkeydactyl" — a pterosaur with the equivalent of opposable thumbs.

From Salon