Word
receivable
Phoneticsre·ceiv·able
US/ɹɪˈsivəbəɫ/
UK/ɹɪsˈiːvəbəl/
Definition
adj. describing money that a company expects to receive from its customers in the future. It is often used in business to talk about amounts owed to the company.
adj. relating to an amount of money that is expected to be received from a debtor. Often used in financial contexts to describe accounts or balances owed to a business.
Examples
“The company has a large receivable from its biggest client.”
“The finance manager is responsible for tracking every receivable to ensure that invoices are paid on time.”
“A significant portion of the firm's current assets consists of trade receivables, which represent the credit sales made to customers who have not yet settled their accounts.”
Examples
simple
“The company has a large receivable from its biggest client.”
contextual
“The finance manager is responsible for tracking every receivable to ensure that invoices are paid on time.”
complex
“A significant portion of the firm's current assets consists of trade receivables, which represent the credit sales made to customers who have not yet settled their accounts.”
Real-World Examples
“In 2025-26, English clubs reported approximately £4.8bn in transfer payables but only £1.5bn in transfer receivables - a net transfer debt of about £3.3bn.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English receyvable; by surface analysis, receive + -able.
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/receivable