Word
laughable
Phoneticslaugh·able
US/ˈɫæfəbəɫ/
UK/lˈɑːfəbəl/
Definition
adj. so silly or bad that it is impossible to take seriously. You use this to describe something that deserves to be laughed at because it is ridiculous.
adj. deserving of ridicule or derision; so absurd as to be unworthy of serious consideration.
Examples
“The suggestion that I would cheat is laughable.”
“The company's offer of a one percent pay rise was laughable given the high rate of inflation.”
“The defendant's claim that he had never seen the weapon before was laughable in light of the overwhelming forensic evidence presented by the prosecution.”
Examples
simple
“The suggestion that I would cheat is laughable.”
contextual
“The company's offer of a one percent pay rise was laughable given the high rate of inflation.”
complex
“The defendant's claim that he had never seen the weapon before was laughable in light of the overwhelming forensic evidence presented by the prosecution.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'seem', or 'become'.
Real-World Examples
“Chelsea needed experience and are surely better off now a 36-year-old starting for them in midfield is no longer a laughable notion.” Etymology
From laugh + -able.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/laughable