measurable

1 of 2

adjective

mea·​sur·​able ˈme-zhə-rə-bəl 

ˈmā-;

ˈmezh-rə-,

ˈmāzh-

1

: capable of being measured : able to be described in specific terms (as of size, amount, duration, or mass) usually expressed as a quantity

Science is the study of facts—things that are measurable, testable, repeatable, verifiable.

—David Gerrold

specifically : large or small enough to be measured

Nutmeg has a bitter taste, so cats are unlikely to consume any measurable amount.

—Elaine Wexler-Mitchell

A Becquerel is the smallest measurable unit of radioactivity.

—Neco Cockburn

Its scope was no longer a measurable form. It was beyond wealth, beyond power.

—Ernie Colon and A. J. Gamble

2

: great enough to be noticeable or worth considering : significant

Another terrible opinion poll confirming all the other terrible polls seemed to add no measurable sense of panic to the Labor mood.

—Geoff Kitney

"… He possesses no measurable talent, his arrogance rivals even that of his father, and he seems to relish in his fame …"

—Steve Kloves

measurability

ˌme-zhə-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

ˌmā-;

ˌmezh-rə-

ˌmāzh-

noun

measurably

ˈme-zhə-rə-blē 

ˈmā-;

ˈmezh-rə-

ˈmāzh-

adverb

measurable

2 of 2

noun

plural measurables

: something that may be measured

especially : a measurable physical attribute (such as height or weight) or ability (such as speed or jumping height) of an athlete

—often used in plural

The measurables are pouring in from the NFL scouting combine, where the inspection of the young and the strong goes way beyond the old turn-your-head-and-cough physical.

—Steve Hummer

His measurables were almost off the charts at the NBA draft combine in Chicago: 7-foot-1, with a 36½-inch running vertical jump, the highest for a 7-footer in combine history.

—Jeff McDonald

Examples of measurable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Some areas have experienced 40 days without measurable rain. —Evan Bush, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024

What’s more, doing so resulted in no measurable change in fruit size or total quantity. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024

Noun

The advent of these psilocybin cups—following in the footsteps of cannabis cups, which rate potency, smell, taste, and all sorts of other measurables—is, however, rewarding the victors of the race to create or procure unprecedentedly potent mushrooms. —Mattha Busby, WIRED, 10 Oct. 2024

The Changing Markets Foundation has offered a slew of recommendations, chief of which is setting measurable and time-bound targets to slash the use of synthetics: 20 percent (against a 2021 baseline) by 2025 and 50 percent by 2030. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English mesurable "that can be measured, middling, discreet, moderate," borrowed from Anglo-French, "that can be measured, finite, moderate, restrained," borrowed from Late Latin mensūrābilis "that can be measured" (Medieval Latin, "moderate, reasonable"), from mensūrāre "to measure entry 2" + Latin -bilis "capable (of acting), worthy (of being acted upon)" — more at -able

First Known Use

Adjective

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1628, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

measurable

adjective

mea·​sur·​able

ˈmezh-(ə-)rə-bəl,

ˈmāzh-

: capable of being measured

measurably

-blē

adverb

Medical Definition

measurable

adjective

mea·​sur·​able ˈmezh-(ə-)rə-bəl, ˈmāzh- 

: capable of being measured

such measurable factors as the amount of nitrogen in air

specifically : large or small enough to be measured

found in measurable amounts

measurable radiation

measurably adverb