legible

[lej-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. capable of being read or deciphered, especially with ease, as writing or printing; easily readable.

2. capable of being discerned or distinguished.

   Anger was legible in his looks and behavior.

legible

/ ˈlɛdʒəbəl /

adjective

1. (of handwriting, print, etc) able to be read or deciphered

2. able to be discovered; discernible

Other Word Forms

• legibility noun
• legibly adverb
• unlegible adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of legible¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin legibilis; equivalent to leg(ere) “to read” + -ibilis -ible

Word History and Origins

Origin of legible¹

C14: from Late Latin legibilis, from Latin legere to read

Example Sentences

The bandmates dressed in secondhand suits that made them look posh to some and, perhaps more damningly, refused to flatten their class identity into something easily legible.

From Los Angeles Times

The Mom’s Meals menu is full of familiar comforts engineered to be legible as “healthy.”

From Salon

"I was shocked when she did, I couldn't believe how legible it was," she said.

From BBC

The printed, V-shaped tarp is easily legible to drivers traveling to and from a Joshua Tree National Park visitors center.

From Los Angeles Times

First, what government actually does must be made visible and legible to the American public.

From Salon

Related Words

• coherent 
• distinct 
• intelligible 
• lucid 
• neat 
• readable 
• understandable