measurable

measurable — adjective

1. Something measurable can be measured — you can describe its size, amount, or deg

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Something measurable can be measured — you can describe its size, amount, or degree using numbers. The word can also describe a change or result that is big enough for people to clearly see or feel.

Example

The team found no measurable difference in water quality after the clean-up.

Christopher saw a measurable improvement in his running speed after two weeks of training.

collocation: measurable improvement + in [activity]

Common collocations
  • measurable effect
  • measurable improvement
  • measurable difference
  • measurable impact
  • measurable progress
  • measurable results
  • measurable benefit
  • measurable change
  • measurable decline
  • measurable data
Synonyms
  • quantifiable

    strictly about numbers or amounts; narrower and more technical than 'measurable'. Used almost exclusively in literal measurement contexts.

  • noticeable

    focuses on the perceptual side — something that can be seen or sensed. Lacks the quantitative dimension of 'measurable'.

  • significant

    emphasises importance or impact rather than the ability to be measured. Broader in scope.

  • appreciable

    slightly formal; means large enough to be noticed or considered important. Much less common than 'measurable' in everyday speech.

Antonyms
  • immeasurable

    too large or extreme to be measured; carries an emotional or dramatic tone.

  • negligible

    so small or unimportant that it is not worth considering or measuring.

Grammar Patterns

measurable + noun (attributive)

be + measurable (predicative)

Usage Note

Applied both literally (to quantities that can be expressed in numbers) and figuratively (to effects or changes large enough that people notice). Common in academic, scientific, and business writing. There is no standard noun form of this word in current English.

Common Mistakes

The scientist looked for a measureable difference in the results.
The scientist looked for a measurable difference in the results.
the correct spelling is 'measurable', not 'measureable'; the suffix is '-able' attached to 'measur-', not 'measure- + -able'.
She gave a measurable reply that showed she had thought carefully.
She gave a measured reply that showed she had thought carefully.
'measured' (not 'measurable') means deliberate and carefully considered, especially in speech or behaviour.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that can be perceived or given a value, but they differ in scope and context. 'Quantifiable' is the most technical — it applies only when numbers are involved (e.g. a quantifiable risk in insurance). 'Noticeable' is purely perceptual: something catches your attention, but you may not be able to put a number on it. 'Significant' adds a judgment of importance — a significant result matters, but may or may not be easy to measure. 'Appreciable' is the most formal; it sits between 'noticeable' and 'significant', often in academic or financial writing. For everyday use, 'measurable' is the safest choice because it covers both the quantitative and the perceptual sides. A practical example: 'The company saw a measurable drop in costs' — you could also say 'a significant drop' (emphasising importance) or 'a noticeable drop' (emphasising perception), but only 'a quantifiable drop' would clearly imply there are exact figures to prove it.

quantifiablenoticeable ↗significant ↗appreciable

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • easily measurable
  • barely measurable
  • clearly measurable
  • directly measurable
  • objectively measurable

Phrases

  • measurable in terms of
  • measurable by means of

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word comes from Latin 'mensura', meaning a measuring or a measure. Latin added the suffix '-abilis' to form 'mensurabilis' (that can be measured). Old French turned this into 'mesurable', and English borrowed it as 'measurable' in the 14th century. The figurative sense — 'large enough to be noticed' — developed later, in the 17th century, as the word expanded from strict measurement contexts to broader judgments of importance.