Word
detectable
Phoneticsde·tectable
US/dɪˈtɛktəbəɫ/
UK/dɪtˈɛktəbəl/
Definition
adj. easy to notice or find using your senses or a special tool. You use this when something is strong enough to be seen, heard, or measured.
adj. capable of being discovered or noticed, especially through the use of instruments or sensory perception. Often follows a linking verb or modifies a noun related to physical presence.
Examples
“The smell of smoke was barely detectable in the hallway.”
“Scientists found that the chemical levels in the water were barely detectable even with the most sensitive equipment.”
“The subtle shift in the patient's heart rate was only detectable through continuous monitoring, as it remained invisible to the naked eye during the initial examination.”
Examples
simple
“The smell of smoke was barely detectable in the hallway.”
contextual
“Scientists found that the chemical levels in the water were barely detectable even with the most sensitive equipment.”
complex
“The subtle shift in the patient's heart rate was only detectable through continuous monitoring, as it remained invisible to the naked eye during the initial examination.”
Usage
Often used with adverbs of degree like 'barely', 'easily', or 'highly'.
Real-World Examples
Common in science writing
“A second thing we’re learning is that only a small fraction of soil organisms are acoustically detectable.” “Many are quiescent, meaning they are not consuming nearby material or producing detectable light.” Etymology
From detect + -able.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/detectable