dispensable

1 of 2

adjective

dis·​pens·​able di-ˈspen(t)-sə-bəl How to pronounce dispensable (audio)
Synonyms of dispensablenext
: capable of being dispensed with
dispensability
di-ˌspen(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce dispensable (audio)
noun

dispensability

2 of 2

noun

dis·​pens·​abil·​i·​ty dəˌspen(t)səˈbilətē How to pronounce dispensability (audio)
(ˌ)diˌ-, 
-ətē, 
-i
plural -es
: the quality or state of being dispensable
his dispensability to his corporation and his corporation's indispensability to him are bound to remain the crux of his problem—John McDonald

Synonyms of dispensable

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Adjective

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Examples of dispensable in a Sentence

Adjective Computers have made typewriters dispensable. Do you consider any of the staff to be dispensable?
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
In any case, in the first heat of their serious adventures with men, female friends seemed dispensable. — Tessa Hadley, New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2026 These children are cannon fodder, dispensable pawns in someone else’s war. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025 Takeoff is booster assisted, and landing is achieved with parachutes combined with dispensable airbags. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 Nov. 2025 Ornaments are no more dispensable than foundations. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dispensable

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin dispensābilis "susceptible of dispensation," from Latin dispensāre "to pay out, dispense" + -bilis "capable (of acting) or worthy of (being acted upon)" — more at -able

First Known Use

Adjective

1649, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dispensable was in 1649

Rhymes for dispensable

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Browse Nearby Words

dispensability
dispensable
dispensary
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Cite this Entry

“Dispensable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispensable. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dispensable

Nglish: Translation of dispensable for Spanish Speakers

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