# acceptable

/ækˈsɛptəbəɫ/ (US) · /ɐksˈɛptəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/acceptable
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. satisfactory or good enough

adjective · CEFR B1

good enough for what you need, even if it is not perfect.

For teachers: meeting a required standard; satisfactory or adequate for a given purpose.

- The hotel room was basic, but it was acceptable for a one-night stay.
- While the initial draft required several minor revisions, the overall quality of the research was deemed acceptable by the review board.

### 2. allowed or socially correct

adjective · CEFR B2

considered right or okay by most people or by the rules.

For teachers: socially, legally, or ethically permissible within a specific context.

- It is no longer acceptable to smoke inside public buildings in this country.
- The committee debated whether such a casual tone was acceptable for a formal diplomatic correspondence.

### 3. passable but not great

adjective · CEFR B2

just okay; not bad, but not very good either.

For teachers: barely worthy or less than excellent; describing something that is merely passable.

- His performance in the play was acceptable, but he didn't stand out.
- The student produced an acceptable translation, though it lacked the stylistic nuance required for a top grade.

### 4. an accepted person or thing

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a person or thing that meets the requirements to be included.

For teachers: a person or object categorized as meeting the criteria for acceptance.

- The list of candidates was divided into the acceptables and the rejects.
- In sociological studies of group dynamics, individuals are often coded as acceptables or outsiders based on their adherence to local norms.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form when referring to people.

## Examples

- The quality of your work is acceptable for this task.
- The manager decided that a formal apology was an acceptable solution to the customer's complaint.
- While the initial draft contained several minor errors, the overall structure was deemed acceptable by the committee, provided the author made the necessary corrections before final publication.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.