potable

1 of 3

adjective

po·​ta·​ble ˈpō-tə-bəl How to pronounce potable (audio)
military often ˈpä-
Synonyms of potable
: suitable for drinking
potable water
potability
ˌpō-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce potable (audio)
noun
potableness
ˈpō-tə-bəl-nəs How to pronounce potable (audio)
military often ˈpä-
noun

potable

2 of 3

noun (1)

: a liquid that is suitable for drinking
especially : an alcoholic beverage

potability

3 of 3

noun (2)

po·​ta·​bil·​i·​ty ˌpōtəˈbilətē How to pronounce potability (audio)
: the quality or state of being potable

Synonyms of potable

Relevance

Adjective

Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of potable in a Sentence

Adjective around here, the only potable water comes from wells Noun (1) hid the potables in the back hall closet keeps the wet bar stocked with an array of top-shelf liquors, mixers, and other fine potables
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.
Adjective
Pack plenty of water, too, since the on-site spring water isn’t potable. — Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 26 June 2026 Residents are being forced to buy potable water, spend money at laundromats and haul heavy buckets up several flights of stairs to wash dishes, flush toilets and take showers. — ABC News, 12 June 2026
Noun
Nine days after the storm struck, only 13 had arrived — and thousands of people across the island were still without potable water. — Wilma Maldonado, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2022 Most of the potable water, wastewater, electrical and communications lines on the pier were installed when it was built and need to be replaced after years of exposure to the marine environment. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Dec. 2022 See All Example Sentences for potable

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Late Latin potabilis, from Latin potare to drink; akin to Latin bibere to drink, Greek pinein

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

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

Rhymes for potable

See All Rhymes for potable

Browse Nearby Words

potability
potable
potage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

potable

adjective
po·​ta·​ble
ˈpōt-ə-bəl
: suitable for drinking
potability
ˌpōt-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
noun

Medical Definition

potable

1 of 2 adjective
po·​ta·​ble ˈpōt-ə-bəl How to pronounce potable (audio)
: suitable for drinking
potable water

potable

2 of 2 noun
: a liquid that is suitable for drinking
especially : an alcoholic beverage

More from Merriam-Webster on potable

Nglish: Translation of potable for Spanish Speakers

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