English Reference
adjective · noun

edible

adj. · n.
US /ˈɛdəbəɫ/ UK /ˈɛdəbəl/ ed·i·ble UK spelling edibles

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.safe for people to eat without getting sick.

    adj.fit for human consumption; non-toxic and safe to ingest.

    Simple

    Are these wild berries edible or are they poisonous?

    In context

    The survival guide helps hikers distinguish between edible mushrooms and those that cause severe gastric distress.

    eatableconsumablenon toxic
    inediblepoisonoustoxic
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.tasting good enough to eat, even if it is not perfect.

    adj.palatable or acceptable to the taste; free from disgust.

    Simple

    The hospital food was not great, but it was edible.

    In context

    While the presentation was somewhat lacking, the chef ensured the dish remained perfectly edible and well-seasoned.

    unpalatable
  3. 03 C1 Advanced InformalSlang

    n.a food item, like a brownie or gummy, that contains marijuana.

    n.a food product, typically a baked good or confection, infused with cannabinoids such as THC.

    Simple

    He bought some chocolate edibles at the legal dispensary.

    In context

    The legislation specifically regulates the packaging of edibles to ensure they are not mistaken for ordinary sweets by children.

    Usage

    Usually used in the plural form 'edibles'.


From Late Latin edibilis, from Latin edō (“eat”). Doublet of eatable.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin edō
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated