applicable
adj.relevant or useful for a particular situation. You use this to say that a rule, law, or idea fits the specific thing you are talking about.
adj.relevant or appropriate to a specific situation or person. Often used in legal, administrative, or technical contexts to indicate that a provision or rule has a valid connection to the case at hand.
“This rule is only applicable to new employees.”
“Please fill out the entire form and write 'N/A' in any sections that are not applicable to you.”
“The court must first determine whether the local statutes are applicable to a maritime dispute occurring outside of territorial waters before proceeding with the trial.”
Commonly followed by the preposition 'to'. Often used in the negative form 'not applicable' or abbreviated as 'N/A' on official documents.
The adjective 'applicable' typically takes the preposition 'to' rather than 'for' when indicating the target group or situation.
Usage directly applicable · generally applicable · particularly applicable
“Tools that help athletes achieve specific training goals may not be applicable to recreational athletes.”
“The researchers also developed a systematic and broadly applicable framework for connecting the physical structure of brain cells with what those cells are capable of computing.”
From Old French applicable, from Medieval Latin applicabilis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.