potable

1 of 2

adjective

po·​ta·​ble ˈpō-tə-bəl 

 military often  ˈpä-

: suitable for drinking

potability

ˌpō-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

potableness

ˈpō-tə-bəl-nəs 

 military often  ˈpä-

noun

potable

2 of 2

noun

: a liquid that is suitable for drinking

especially : an alcoholic beverage

Synonyms

Adjective

• drinkable

Noun

• alcohol
• aqua vitae
• ardent spirits
• booze
• bottle
• drink
• firewater
• grog
• hooch [slang]
• inebriant
• intoxicant
• John Barleycorn
• juice [slang]
• liquor
• lush [slang]
• moonshine
• rum
• sauce [slang]
• spirits
• stimulant
• strong drink
• tipple

Examples of potable in a Sentence

Adjective

around here, the only potable water comes from wells

Noun

hid the potables in the back hall closet

keeps the wet bar stocked with an array of top-shelf liquors, mixers, and other fine potables

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Residents in Asheville, North Carolina, didn’t have full access to potable water 53 days after the storm hit. —Jim Foerster, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

There are chemical toilets, but no potable water, electricity, cell-phone coverage or WiFi. —Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

Noun

Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune fans might need to break out the potent potables after reading this news: The 24/7 Pluto channels devoted to both shows have quietly ended their runs on the platform. —Josef Adalian, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2024

Its high-end potables have since won awards in beer strongholds Germany and Belgium, and the powerhouse Carlsberg Group recently bought a minority stake. —Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Late Latin potabilis, from Latin potare to drink; akin to Latin bibere to drink, Greek pinein

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

potable

adjective

po·​ta·​ble

ˈpōt-ə-bəl

: suitable for drinking

potability

ˌpōt-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē

noun

Medical Definition

potable

1 of 2 adjective

po·​ta·​ble ˈpōt-ə-bəl 

: suitable for drinking

potable water

potable

2 of 2 noun

: a liquid that is suitable for drinking

especially : an alcoholic beverage