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

On the other hand, soluble fiber—found in some grains, legumes, seeds, and various vegetables—can slow down digestion. —Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2024

The soluble fiber in beans can improve cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and gut health, says Elaine Hon, RD, a registered dietitian in the Stanford Medicine Diabetes Care program in Palo Alto, California. —Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 18 Oct. 2024

Accordingly, that’s why cold brewing requires hours as opposed to minutes; steeping grounds in cold water is a more gentle, and more lengthy, approach to extracting coffee beans’ soluble compounds. —Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 16 Oct. 2024

Apples contain pectin, a type of soluble fiber that helps to improve the transit time of food in your digestive system. —Anna Meyer, Cpt, Health, 16 Oct. 2024

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

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