serviceable

adjective

ser·​vice·​able ˈsər-və-sə-bəl 

1

: helpful, useful

2

: fit for use

a serviceable design

also : of adequate quality

her serviceable but not exceptional voice

—Irving Kolodin

serviceability

ˌsər-və-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

serviceableness

ˈsər-və-sə-bəl-nəs 

noun

serviceably

ˈsər-və-sə-blē 

adverb

Did you know?

Someone who speaks serviceable Spanish isn't fluent in it but gets by pretty well. A serviceable jacket is practical and maybe even rugged. But serviceable sometimes damns with faint praise. A serviceable performance is all right but not inspired. Serviceable curtains aren't the ideal color or pattern, but they serve their purpose. A serviceable pair of shoes is sturdy but won't win you any fashion points.

Synonyms

• actionable
• applicable
• applicative
• applied
• functional
• practicable
• practical
• ultrapractical
• usable
• useable
• useful
• workable
• working

Examples of serviceable in a Sentence

I bought an old but still serviceable bicycle.

be sure to wear serviceable shoes if you're going to be walking on the rocks along the shore

Recent Examples on the Web

As a reminder, a serviceable addressable market refers to market size the company can service, and is not a forecast of the company’s revenue. —Beth Kindig, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

The project faces challenges from those resistant to the idea of replacing the windows that were designed for Notre-Dame in the nineteenth century by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, which emerged from the inferno in serviceable shape, though in need of cleaning. —News Desk, Artforum, 19 Dec. 2024

Tan estimated Broadcom’s serviceable addressable market, or SAM, for AI to be about $60 billion to $90 billion by fiscal 2027. —Zev Fima, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024

And part of it is just that these dresses are still perfectly serviceable. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English serviseable "willing to serve or be of assistance, suitable, useful," borrowed from Anglo-French servissable, from servise service entry 1 + -able -able

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

serviceable

adjective

ser·​vice·​able ˈsər-və-sə-bəl 

1

: prepared for or capable of service : useful

2

: lasting or wearing well in use

serviceability

ˌsər-və-sə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

serviceableness

ˈsər-və-sə-bəl-nəs 

noun