Word
legible
Phoneticsleg·i·ble, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫɛdʒəbəɫ/
UK/lˈɛdʒəbəl/
Definition
adj. easy to read. You use this to describe writing or text that is clear and not messy.
adj. capable of being read with ease. Often used to describe handwriting, fonts, or printed text that is not distorted or faded.
Examples
“Please write your name in legible handwriting.”
“The old map was difficult to use because the ink had faded and the text was no longer legible.”
Examples
simple
“Please write your name in legible handwriting.”
contextual
“The old map was difficult to use because the ink had faded and the text was no longer legible.”
Real-World Examples
“If the art’s strong enough, it should be legible to some degree to whoever comes across it.” Etymology
From Late Latin legibilis (“that can be read”), from Latin legō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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/legible