Word
discernible
Phoneticsdis·cernible
US/dɪˈsɝnəbəɫ/
UK/dɪsˈɜːnəbəl/
Definition
adj. easy to see, hear, or notice. You use this to describe something that is clear enough for you to identify.
adj. capable of being perceived or identified by the senses. Often used to describe a quality or detail that is faint but still noticeable.
Examples
“The faint sound of the river is discernible from the road.”
“Even from a distance, the subtle differences in the two paintings are discernible to an experienced eye.”
“The subtle shifts in the protagonist's tone suggest a discernible change in her character, though the author never explicitly states the cause.”
Examples
simple
“The faint sound of the river is discernible from the road.”
contextual
“Even from a distance, the subtle differences in the two paintings are discernible to an experienced eye.”
complex
“The subtle shifts in the protagonist's tone suggest a discernible change in her character, though the author never explicitly states the cause.”
Real-World Examples
“That final revelation, of these plucky underdogs winning yet another challenge to the legal system against all discernible odds, marked the first time I pumped my fist watching a documentary.” “It is little known that Galton – often called the ‘father of fingerprinting’– took palm prints too, occasionally wondering if his hypothesis on the individuality of the fingerprint was also discernible in palm lines.” Etymology
From Middle French discernable; spelling changed from -a- to -i- in the 17th century to conform to Latin discernibilis. By surface analysis, discern + -ible.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/discernible