arrestable

adjective

ar·​rest·​able ə-ˈre-stə-bəl also a- How to pronounce arrestable (audio)
of a criminal offense
: identified by statute as an offense for which arrest is authorized
broadly : of a sufficiently serious nature or committed in such circumstances that arrest is authorized
Berzon noted that under Washington law, the officers had no authority to take Brooks into custody: Failure to sign a traffic infraction is not an arrestable offense, and it's not illegal to resist an unlawful arrest. Mike Carter, Seattle Times, 2 Oct. 2010

Word History

Etymology

arrest entry 1 + -able

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of arrestable was in 1880

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Dictionary Entries Near arrestable

Cite this Entry

“Arrestable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrestable. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.

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