Standard Lemma guide

governable

adj · 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Capable of being governed or subjected to authority; amenable to law or rule.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: controllable, manageable, ruleable, obedient, tractable, amenable, biddable, complaisant, compliant, docile, governable, indulgent, maniable, meek, passive, pliant, rulable, yielding

Antonyms: ungovernable

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

capable of being controlled

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: controllable

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English govern 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 governable From govern + -able.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: покорен (pokoren) — capable of being governed
  • Bulgarian: послушен (poslušen) — capable of being governed
  • Catalan: governable — capable of being governed
  • Dutch: regeerbaar — capable of being governed
  • French: gouvernable — capable of being governed
  • Galician: gobernable — capable of being governed
  • Galician: gobernábel — capable of being governed
  • German: regierbar — capable of being governed
  • Greek: κυβερνήσιμος (kyvernísimos) — capable of being governed
  • Italian: governabile — capable of being governed
  • Manx: so-ghurneil — capable of being governed
  • Manx: so-smaghtaghey — capable of being governed
  • Portuguese: governável — capable of being governed
  • Romanian: guvernabil — capable of being governed
  • Spanish: gobernable — capable of being governed