discernible

adjective

dis·​cern·​ible di-ˈsər-nə-bəl How to pronounce discernible (audio)
-ˈzər-
variants or less commonly discernable
: able to be perceived by a sense (such as sight or smell) or by the mind : capable of being discerned
a discernible difference
It is thought that the genes that normally produce a white underbelly in the gray squirrel are active in a wider area of their bodies, often leaving discernible gray patches on the spine and head.C. Claiborne Ray
Downpours are a near-daily occurrence throughout the year, and there are few discernible changes of season. Sunlight, warmth, and moisture are constants.Scott Wallace
discernibly adverb
or less commonly discernably
a discernibly better product
two materials that are not discernibly different
When a recipe says to brown the meat, it is calling for a deep brown sear and a discernibly thick crust on all sides … Cook's Illustrated

Examples of discernible in a Sentence

discernible differences in the two authors' writing styles
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.
Showrunner and co-creator Allan Heinberg prioritizes recreating what’s already on the page while stitching those pages together to form a discernible plot. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 3 July 2025 Notably, the parking sensors cue up camera views far too easily, with no discernible way to click out of the screen to return to Apple CarPlay or navigation until the car simply decides things are safe again. Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 Birth after death For centuries, Catholic dogma and Western legal precedent have mandated immediate cesarean section when a pregnant woman died after quickening, the point when fetal movement becomes discernible. Lindsey Breitwieser, The Conversation, 1 July 2025 Dennis Weaver is the mild-mannered commuter stuck behind the wheel of a car that’s being terrorized by a mysterious tractor trailer for no discernible reason. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for discernible

Word History

Etymology

discernible borrowed from Late Latin discernibilis, from Latin discernere "to separate, divide off, distinguish, discern" + -ibilis -ible; discernable from discern + -able, after Late Latin discernibilis

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of discernible was in 1561

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Cite this Entry

“Discernible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discernible. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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