adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈɑːɡjuəbli/
General-American:/ˈɑɹɡjuəbli/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AA1 R G Y UW0 AH0 B L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
As can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: possibly, defensibly, disputably
Antonyms: none provided
2
adverb
Meaning 2
as can be shown by argument
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
she is arguably the best
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2erǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-us Proto-Indo-European *h2érǵus Proto-Italic *argus Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *-ti Proto-Italic *-ō Proto-Italic *arguō Latin arguōder. Old French arguerbor. Middle English arguen English argue Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dhlom Proto-Indo-European *-dhlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English arguable Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English arguably From arguable + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
21 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
按理說 /按理说
(ànlǐ shuō)
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Chinese Mandarin:
可以說 /可以说
(kěyǐ shuō)
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Danish:
velsagtens
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Dutch:
onderbouwbaar
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Dutch:
verdedigbaar
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Finnish:
luultavasti
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Finnish:
otaksuttavasti
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
French:
probablement
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
French:
sans doute
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
French:
possiblement
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
French:
peut-être
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
German:
vertretbarerweise
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
German:
wohl
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Polish:
zapewne
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Portuguese:
provavelmente
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Portuguese:
discutivelmente
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Russian:
как мо́жно доказа́ть
(kak móžno dokazátʹ)
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Spanish:
argüiblemente
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Swedish:
enligt mångas förmenande
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Turkish:
tartışmalı şekilde
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Turkish:
tartışmasız
— as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
