Questionable
'kwɛstʃənəbəl
Definitions
2 meaningsOpen to doubt or suspicion; doubtful; uncertain.
'kwɛstʃənəbəl
Open to doubt or suspicion; not likely to be true or correct.
His motives for donating were questionable.
💡 Simply: Something is questionable when you're not sure if it's right or true. Imagine your friend told you a story, but you weren't sure if it was real, you might say, "That story seems questionable."
👶 For kids: When something is questionable, it means you're not sure if it's true or good. It's like when you see a funny drawing and you're not sure if it's a real monster.
More Examples
The validity of the research findings is questionable.
The ethics of the new marketing campaign are questionable.
How It's Used
"The company's ethics are highly questionable."
"The evidence presented was deemed questionable by the jury."
Of uncertain merit or quality; not desirable.
'kwɛstʃənəbəl
Of uncertain merit or quality; not desirable
The questionable practices of the firm finally came under scrutiny.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, something is questionable because you don't like it. If a food looks strange, you might think, "The taste of this meal seems questionable!"
👶 For kids: If something is questionable, it means you don't know if you like it. It's like a food you've never tasted before.
More Examples
The city council voted to remove the statue of the general after years of his questionable behavior.
They made a series of questionable investments.
How It's Used
"The questionable decisions led to the decline in customer trust."
Idioms & expressions
a questionable character
A person of dubious reputation or integrity.
"The private detective was known as a questionable character in town."
questionable taste
An aesthetic preference or style that is considered unusual or lacking in quality.
"The interior decorator had a questionable taste in furniture."
From Old French 'questionable', from Latin 'quaestionabilis' (able to be questioned), derived from 'quaestio' (a questioning, inquiry).
The word has been used since the 16th century to describe things that are open to debate or subject to doubt.
Memory tip
Think of a question mark—it signifies doubt and uncertainty.
Word Origin
"able to be questioned"