sable

1 of 2

noun

sa·​ble ˈsā-bəl 

plural sables

1

a

: the color black

b

: black clothing worn in mourning

—usually used in plural

2

a or plural sable

(1)

: a carnivorous mammal (Martes zibellina) of the weasel family that occurs chiefly in northern Asia

(2)

: any of various animals related to the sable

b

: the fur or pelt of a sable

3

: the usually dark brown color of the fur of the sable

sable

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of the color black

2

: dark, gloomy

Synonyms

Adjective

• black
• ebony
• pitch-black
• pitch-dark
• pitchy
• raven

Examples of sable in a Sentence

Noun

a brush made of sable

Adjective

a beautiful sable cat

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Madison gives you 100-percent of this on a fake silver platter, dressed up in real Russian sables. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2024

The cats are also consumers of the smallest of the bigger, bulkier antelopes, such as sables and kudus, and are known to gnaw on the occasional rabbit or bird. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2023

Adjective

What felt like a Cinderella story at the start is exposed as a Faustian bargain with a sable coat thrown in. —Lily Burana, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024

This means that sable are often in competition with farmers. —Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 11 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Middle Low German sabel sable or its fur, from Middle High German zobel, of Slav origin; akin to Russian sobol' sable or its fur

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sable

noun

sa·​ble

ˈsā-bəl

plural sables

1

: the color black

2

a

or plural sable : a meat-eating mammal of northern Europe and Asia related to the martens and valued for its soft rich brown fur

b

: the fur or pelt of a sable

sable adjective