legible

adjective

leg·​i·​ble ˈle-jə-bəl 

1

: capable of being read or deciphered : plain

legible handwriting

2

: capable of being discovered or understood

murder sweltered in his heart and was legible upon his face

—Thomas Wolfe

legibility

ˌle-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

legibly

ˈle-jə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• accessible
• apprehensible
• coherent
• comprehendible
• comprehensible
• fathomable
• graspable
• intelligible
• scrutable
• understandable

Examples of legible in a Sentence

The document is not legible.

an anxious mood that was clearly legible upon her face

Recent Examples on the Web

Modern British cooking has cemented itself as a fully legible category, with lore and canon, elder gods and young flamethrowers. —Amiel Stanek, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025

Pattinson’s performance makes this horrifying lack of remorse legible. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025

For tattered, but still legible and extra sentimental recipe cards, consider framing them. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 23 Mar. 2025

But that’s not really the point of their connection, because love does not necessarily need to have a practical end or a happy ending that is legible or tangible. —Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin legibilis, from Latin legere to read

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for legible

• illegible

Kids Definition

legible

adjective

leg·​i·​ble ˈlej-ə-bəl 

: capable of being read : plain

legible handwriting

legibility

ˌlej-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

legibly

ˈlej-ə-blē 

adverb