adj · 3 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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UK:/dɪˈtɛktəbəɫ/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:D IH0 T EH1 K T AH0 B AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Able to be detected, noticeable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
There was a detectable pause before he continued. We all noticed it but no one commented.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adjective satellite
Meaning 2
easily seen or detected
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a detectable note of sarcasm
he continued after a perceptible pause
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: perceptible
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
capable of being detected
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
after a noticeable pause the lecturer continued
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: noticeable
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English detect 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 detectable From detect + -able.
Across languages
Translations
14 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
откриваем
(otkrivaem)
— that which can be detected
Dutch:
detecteerbaar
— that which can be detected
French:
détectable
— that which can be detected
Hungarian:
kimutatható
— that which can be detected
Hungarian:
észrevehető
— that which can be detected
Italian:
rilevabile
— that which can be detected
Polish:
odczuwalny
— that which can be detected
Polish:
wykrywalny
— that which can be detected
Portuguese:
detectável
— that which can be detected
Portuguese:
detetável
— that which can be detected
Romanian:
detectabil
— that which can be detected
Spanish:
detectable
— that which can be detected
Turkish:
ortaya çıkarılabilir
— that which can be detected
Turkish:
keşfedilebilir
— that which can be detected