# washable

/ˈwɑʃəbəɫ/ (US) · /wˈɒʃəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/washable
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

able to be washed without damage or loss of colour. You use this for clothes, paint, and other materials that stay safe in water.

For teachers: capable of being washed without damage, shrinkage, or loss of colour. Often combined with 'machine' to specify suitability for machine washing.

## Examples

- This shirt is washable and keeps its bright colour.
- I only buy washable sofa covers because my kids spill juice all the time.
- The gallery chose washable paint for the entrance hall, knowing thousands of visitors would brush against the walls each month.

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the noun it modifies; often appears in phrases like 'machine washable'.

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