knowable

English

Etymology

Attested since the 15th century; know +‎ -able

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): [ˈnəʊəbɫ̩]
• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): [ˈnoʊəbɫ̩]

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): [ˈnəʉəbɫ̩]
• (New Zealand) IPA^(key): [ˈnɐʉəbɫ̩]

Adjective

knowable (comparative more knowable, superlative most knowable)

1. Capable of being known, understood or comprehended.
   • 2011, Shehan Karunatilaka, Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew, Jonathan Cape, page 138:

     Some things are not knowable. If Pradeep Mathew had played for India or England, would he have gone on to be the greatest spinner of all time? Not knowable. How many poor bastards have perished in this bed before me? Not knowable.

Antonyms

• unknowable

Derived terms

• knowableness
• knowably
• nonknowable

Related terms

• knowability

Translations

capable of being known, understood or comprehended

Catalan: cognoscible Czech: poznatelný (cs) French: connaissable (fr) Galician: coñecible (gl), coñecíbel (gl) Italian: conoscibile (it) Portuguese: conhecível (pt) Spanish: conocible (es), cognoscible (es) Telugu: వేద్యము (te) (vēdyamu)

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2025), “knowable”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.