operable

adjective

op·​er·​a·​ble ˈä-p(ə-)rə-bəl 

1

: fit, possible, or desirable to use : practicable

2

: likely to result in a favorable outcome upon surgical treatment

an operable cancer

operability

ˌä-p(ə-)rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

operably

ˈä-pə-rə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• available
• employable
• exploitable
• fit
• functional
• practicable
• serviceable
• usable
• useable
• useful

Examples of operable in a Sentence

The radio is operable without the car running.

the historic wooden ship has been fully restored and is once again an operable seafaring vessel

Recent Examples on the Web

The sides and the front-facing facade are operable to ensure natural ventilation and a canopy has been installed for shading. —Adam Williams, New Atlas, 4 Dec. 2024

The Navajo communities where polling places were not operable once polls were set to open were Rock Point, Cottonwood, St. Michaels and Dennehostso. —Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

Drones are vulnerable to hacking and espionage as well, especially as their operating systems grow more sophisticated and remotely operable. —Tom Donilon, Foreign Affairs, 28 Jan. 2022

Advertisement Manheimer noted that the area’s one operable road could not be shut down for Biden’s motorcade. —Chris Megerian and Colleen Long, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin operābilis "active, efficacious," from operārī "to work, be efficacious" + Latin -ābilis -able — more at operate

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

operable

adjective

op·​er·​a·​ble ˈäp-(ə-)rə-bəl 

1

: fit, possible, or desirable to use

2

: likely to have a favorable result upon surgical treatment

an operable cancer

Medical Definition

operable

adjective

op·​er·​a·​ble ˈäp-(ə-)rə-bəl 

1

: fit, possible, or desirable to use

2

: likely to result in a favorable outcome upon surgical treatment

operability

ˌäp-(ə-)rə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural operabilities