Detectable

/dɪˈtɛktəbəl/

adjectiveIntermediate📊CommonQuality
1 meaning3 questions

Definitions

1

Capable of being discovered or noticed.

/dɪˈtɛktəbəl/

adjectiveneutralIntermediate
Quality

Capable of being discovered or perceived.

The tremor was barely detectable.

💡 Simply: Something is detectable if you can find it or see it. Like, if you have a secret stash of cookies, but it's not very well hidden, it's easily detectable!

👶 For kids: If something is detectable, it means you can find it or see it!

More Examples

2

There was no detectable change in her mood.

3

The amount of radiation released was below the detectable level.

How It's Used

Science

"The scientist was searching for detectable signs of life on Mars."

Law

"The police were searching for any detectable evidence that could help them solve the crime."

From Middle English detecten (to reveal) + -able.

The word 'detectable' started appearing in texts in the late 16th century.

Memory tip

Think of a detective trying to find something that is 'detectable'.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to uncover, reveal"

barely detectableeasily detectabledetectable leveldetectable signsdetectable amount

Common misspellings

detactabledetecabledetactible

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written