intelligible

adjective

in·​tel·​li·​gi·​ble in-ˈte-lə-jə-bəl How to pronounce intelligible (audio)
1
: capable of being understood or comprehended
jargon intelligible only to the initiated
2
: apprehensible by the intellect only
intelligibility noun
intelligibleness noun
intelligibly adverb

Examples of intelligible in a Sentence

the ability to make complex concepts intelligible to the average reader Very little of the recording was intelligible.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Clear, intelligible, physical consequences for success or failure in combat are crucial to building effective battle sequences, and Wheel comfortably passes that test this week. Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025 The Library of Congress digitized a collection of Bell’s documents describing his breakthrough experiment with sound wave vibrations that could replicate intelligible sound transmitted from one place to another. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025 My family attended an evangelical church that believed in Hell in a way that would have been intelligible, if abhorrent, to the medieval Catholic Dante. Elisa Gonzalez, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025 The lyrics manage to be about nothing in particular yet totally intelligible. Marc Tracy, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for intelligible

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin intelligibilis, from intelligere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of intelligible was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intelligible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intelligible. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

intelligible

adjective
in·​tel·​li·​gi·​ble in-ˈtel-ə-jə-bəl How to pronounce intelligible (audio)
: able to be understood
intelligibility noun
intelligibleness noun
intelligibly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on intelligible

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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