soluble

adjective

sol·​u·​ble ˈsäl-yə-bəl 

1

: susceptible of being dissolved in or as if in a liquid and especially water

2

: subject to being solved or explained

soluble questions

Did you know?

Soluble looks like a word that should be confined to chemistry labs, though it's often used by nonchemists as well to describe substances that can be dissolved in liquids. On the other hand, the sense of soluble meaning "solvable" is also quite common. In this sense, soluble, like its opposite, insoluble, is usually paired with problem. If only all life's problems were soluble by stirring them in a container filled with water.

Synonyms

• answerable
• explainable
• explicable
• resolvable
• solvable

Examples of soluble in a Sentence

Sugar is soluble in water.

one murder case that proved to be soluble after all

Recent Examples on the Web

Summary Barley is a whole grain with high levels of a soluble fiber called beta-glucan. —Kathi Valeii Published, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2025

Heavy rainfall can trigger the collapse of old mine shafts or infrastructure, though these cases are not technically sinkholes because the crater is not formed by the dissolution of soluble rocks, according to the British Geological Survey. —Jenny Gross, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025

That's because fiber-rich foods naturally tend to have a mix of multiple fibers, which can be categorized into two types: soluble and insoluble. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 19 Feb. 2025

Vitamin E Vitamin E is a soluble vitamin found in some foods, added to foods, or available in supplement form. —Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, digestible, laxative, from Late Latin solubilis, from Latin solvere to loosen, dissolve — more at solve

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for soluble

• indissoluble
• insoluble
• revoluble
• voluble

Kids Definition

soluble

adjective

sol·​u·​ble ˈsäl-yə-bəl 

1

: capable of being dissolved in a liquid

sugar is soluble in water

2

: capable of being solved or explained : solvable

a soluble problem

Medical Definition

soluble

adjective

sol·​u·​ble ˈsäl-yə-bəl 

1

: susceptible of being dissolved in or as if in a fluid

2

: capable of being emulsified

a soluble oil