legible

adjective

leg·​i·​ble ˈle-jə-bəl How to pronounce legible (audio)
Synonyms of legible
1
: capable of being read or deciphered : plain
legible handwriting
2
: capable of being discovered or understood
… murder sweltered in his heart and was legible upon his face.—Thomas Wolfe
legibility
ˌle-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce legible (audio)
noun
legibly
ˈle-jə-blē How to pronounce legible (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of legible

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Examples of legible in a Sentence

The document is not legible. an anxious mood that was clearly legible upon her face
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.
Dozens of students and community members, their signs still legible in the dwindling twilight over the University of Chicago’s Main Quadrangle, watched as a peer stood before them with a megaphone. — Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026 Occasionally, an artifact such as a piece of pottery is so well-preserved that even its creator’s signature is still legible thousands of years later. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 28 Oct. 2026 The first constraint is length—usually 12 lines or less—given that poems need to fit onto the subway’s wall and still be legible. — James Folta, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026 Sometimes, though, Guibert is helped by a subject who works with him to make an emotionally legible picture that succeeds graphically as well. — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for legible

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin legibilis, from Latin legere to read

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of legible was in the 15th century

Rhymes for legible

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Browse Nearby Words

legibility
legible
legion
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Cite this Entry

“Legible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legible. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

legible

adjective
leg·​i·​ble ˈlej-ə-bəl How to pronounce legible (audio)
: capable of being read : plain
legible handwriting
legibility
ˌlej-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce legible (audio)
noun
legibly
ˈlej-ə-blē How to pronounce legible (audio)
adverb
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