removable

removable — adjective

1. describes something that can be detached, taken away, or separated from what it

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes something that can be detached, taken away, or separated from what it is normally attached to — for example, a phone battery that comes out, a sofa cover that comes off for washing, or a stain that can be cleaned off fabric.

Example

The back cover of Ignacio's phone is removable for battery access.

passive: is removable for [purpose]

All cushion covers on this sofa are removable and machine-washable.

collocation: removable + machine-washable in household context

Common collocations
  • removable battery
  • removable cover
  • removable lid
  • removable part
  • removable storage
  • removable dividers
  • removable stain
  • removable lining
Synonyms
  • detachable

    specifically for physical parts fastened by screws, clips, or zippers; narrower than 'removable'

  • separable

    more formal; used when two things can be split apart, not just unfastened

  • erasable

    limited to marks, writing, or data that can be rubbed out or deleted

  • dismissible

    applies to someone who can be removed from a job or position, but much rarer in everyday use

Antonyms
  • permanent

    suggests something cannot be changed, moved, or undone

  • non-removable

    direct opposite, common in technical and product specifications

  • fixed

    attached securely and not meant to be taken off

Grammar Patterns

removable + noun

be + removable

Usage Note

Common in product descriptions, user manuals, and household contexts. The opposite 'non-removable' is also frequently used in the same settings — especially for smartphone batteries and appliance parts.

Common Mistakes

The sticker is removed' (when meaning it can be removed).
The sticker is removable.
'removed' describes a completed action; 'removable' describes an inherent quality or possibility.

Word family

  • remove
    verbB1
  • removal
    nounB2
  • removed
    adjectiveB2
  • remover
    nounC1
  • irremovable
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that can be taken away or undone, but they apply to different domains. 'Detachable' is the closest and most common substitute — it describes physical objects fastened by clips, screws, or buttons (a detachable hood, a detachable camera lens). 'Separable' is more formal and refers to things that can be split into independent parts (separable arguments, separable verbs). 'Erasable' is restricted to marks or data that can be wiped clean (erasable pen, erasable memory). 'Dismissible' is rare and applies mostly to people who can be removed from a job. For everyday use with physical household items, 'detachable' and 'removable' are largely interchangeable, though 'removable' is broader — it covers stains on fabric, data on a drive, or a lid on a jar, while 'detachable' implies a fastener of some kind.

detachableseparableerasabledismissible

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • removable without tools
  • removable for cleaning

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from the verb 'remove' (entering English from Old French 'removoir', from Latin 'removēre' — 're-' meaning 'back, away' and 'movēre' meaning 'to move'), with the suffix '-able' added to show possibility. The adjective 'removable' has been in English since the 1500s.