potable

1 of 2

adjective

po·​ta·​ble ˈpō-tə-bəl 

 military often  ˈpä-

: suitable for drinking

potability

ˌpō-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

potableness

ˈpō-tə-bəl-nəs 

 military often  ˈpä-

noun

potable

2 of 2

noun

: a liquid that is suitable for drinking

especially : an alcoholic beverage

Synonyms

Adjective

• drinkable

Noun

• alcohol
• aqua vitae
• ardent spirits
• booze
• bottle
• drink
• firewater
• grog
• hooch [slang]
• inebriant
• intoxicant
• John Barleycorn
• juice [slang]
• liquor
• lush [slang]
• moonshine
• rum
• sauce [slang]
• spirits
• stimulant
• strong drink
• tipple

Examples of potable in a Sentence

Adjective

around here, the only potable water comes from wells

Noun

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

Adjective

Pure Water has been slated to provide 30 million gallons per day of potable water in phase one and 53 million gallons per day of potable water in phase two. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024

In all, residents were without potable water for six days. —Silvia Foster-Frau, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024

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

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

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 

: suitable for drinking

potable water

potable

2 of 2 noun

: a liquid that is suitable for drinking

especially : an alcoholic beverage