Word
potable
US/ˈpoʊtəbəɫ/
UK/pˈəʊtəbəl/
Definition
adj. safe to drink. You use this to describe water or liquid that is clean and does not make you sick.
adj. fit for or intended to be drunk; safe for human consumption. Often used in technical or formal contexts regarding water quality.
Examples
“The local government provides potable water to every household.”
“After the heavy rain, the residents were warned not to drink the water until it was confirmed to be potable.”
“The expedition relied on melting snow to ensure a steady supply of potable water, as the river was contaminated by industrial runoff from the valley below.”
Examples
simple
“The local government provides potable water to every household.”
contextual
“After the heavy rain, the residents were warned not to drink the water until it was confirmed to be potable.”
complex
“The expedition relied on melting snow to ensure a steady supply of potable water, as the river was contaminated by industrial runoff from the valley below.”
Real-World Examples
“Potable water is water that is free of harmful bacteria and chemicals and is considered safe to drink and cook with.” Etymology
The adjective is derived from Late Middle English potable (“drinkable, potable”), from Middle French, Old French potable (modern French potable (“drinkable, potable”)), and from its etymon Late Latin pōtābilis (“drinkable, potable”), from Latin pōtāre (“to drink”) + -bilis (suffix forming adjectives indicating a capacity or worth of being acted upon). Pōtāre is the present active infinitive of pōtō (“to drink”), from Proto-Italic pōtos, from Proto-Indo-European peh₃- (“to drink”). The English word is cognate with Catalan potable, Italian potabile, Spanish potable. The noun is derived from the adjective.
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.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/potable