colorable

adjective

col·​or·​able ˈkə-lə-rə-bəl 

-lər-ə-,

ˈkəl-rə-

1

: seemingly valid or genuine

a colorable claim in law

2

: intended to deceive : counterfeit

colorable and false pretenses

colorably

ˈkə-lə-rə-blē 

-lər-ə-

ˈkəl-rə-

adverb

Examples of colorable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If that has a familiar ring, Democrats can thank lawfare for the end of honorable resignation in the face of colorable criminal charges as a political norm. —The Editors, National Review, 27 Sep. 2024

Unlike sentencing review processes, which are not designed to prompt a full investigative review, conviction review can lead to a full re-examination of cases for which a colorable claim is advanced, and defendants need not wait 20 years before applying. —Jennifer Rodgers, CNN, 20 Sep. 2022

Given how strongly the NCAA tries to hold on to even the slightest word of dicta to try to claim antitrust immunity, the last thing Congress needs to do to college athletes right now is pass a statute that gives the NCAA’s lawyers another somewhat colorable claim of immunity. —Marc Edelman, Forbes, 27 Apr. 2021

The lesson here for litigators is that if a UPEPA special motion is at least colorable and not asserted for purposes of delay, that motion should usually be brought. —Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023

Lunchtime can double as an art session or geography lesson with this colorable world map tablecloth. —Catherine Garcia, The Week, 14 Nov. 2022

There are colorable constitutional objections to each of these proposals. —Ian MacDougall, Harper’s Magazine , 28 Sep. 2022

Gromacki is particularly a fan of the colorable mats — just the thing to entertain guests at the kids’ table. —Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, 8 Nov. 2021

There is not a single court in the country that has found his campaign’s claims to be credible and with good reason: There has been no evidence presented to support them and no colorable argument made to support the attacks. —Janine Geske, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 27 Nov. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, from colurer "to color entry 2, give the appearance (of), cover up" + -able -able

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

colorable

adjective

col·​or·​able

: having an appearance of truth, validity, or right

if a colorable claim — or better — can be pleaded

—D. F. Kolb and M. P. Carroll

colorably adverb