Word of the Day

: July 13, 2013

fungible

adjective FUN-juh-bul

What It Means

1 : being of such a nature that one part or quantity may be replaced by another equal part or quantity in the satisfaction of an obligation

2 : interchangeable

3 : flexible

fungible in Context

Since fruits and vegetables are regarded as fungible in this diet, you are allowed a total of five servings of either or both.

"Oil is a fungible commodity and its prices are determined in the global market." - From an article by Gal Luft in The Wichita Eagle (Kansas), May 30, 2013

Did You Know?

"Fungible"-which derives from the Latin verb "fungi," meaning "to perform" (no relation to the noun "fungus" and its plural "fungi")-is a word that often shows up in legal and political contexts. Something fungible can be exchanged for something else of the same kind. For example, when we say "oil is a fungible commodity," we mean that when a purchaser is expecting a delivery of oil, any oil of the stipulated quantity and quality will usually do. Another example of something fungible is cash. It doesn't matter what twenty dollar bill you get - it's still worth the same amount as any other twenty dollar bill. In contrast, something like a painting isn't fungible; a purchaser would expect a specific, identifiable item to be delivered. In broader use, "fungible" can mean "interchangeable" or sometimes "changeable, fluid, or malleable."