alienable

1 of 2

adjective

alien·​able ˈāl-yə-nə-bəl 

ˈā-lē-ə-nə-

: transferable to another's ownership

alienable lands

alienable shares of the company

alienability

ˌāl-yə-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

ˌā-lē-ə-nə-

noun

alienability

2 of 2

noun

alien·​abil·​i·​ty ˌā-lē-ə-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē  ˌāl-yə-nə- 

plural -es

: the capability of being transferred to other ownership

alienability of property

Examples of alienable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In the interpretation promoted by Pompeo, however, women’s rights or L.G.B.T. rights are somehow additional to basic human rights—ad-hoc rights, alienable rights. —Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 10 July 2019

And values and alienable rights in our Constitution. —Fox News, 10 July 2018

That military service is alienable, through restrictions on membership necessary for our military to fulfill its purpose, automatically rules it out as a right. —Philip H. Devoe, National Review, 3 Aug. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

probably borrowed from French aliénable, going back to Middle French, from aliener "to transfer (a property, right, etc.) to another's ownership" + -able -able — more at alien entry 3

First Known Use

Adjective

1604, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1706, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for alienable

• inalienable

Legal Definition

alienable

adjective

alien·​able ˈāl-yə-nə-bəl, ˈā-lē-ə- 

: that may be changed over to another's ownership

an alienable interest in property

alienability

ˌāl-yə-nə-ˈbil-ə-tē, ˌā-lē-ə- 

noun