legible

adjective

leg·​i·​ble ˈle-jə-bəl 

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 

noun

legibly

ˈle-jə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms of legible

• understandable
• accessible

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

Its purpose was not to replace the demand engine, but to make the market’s mechanics legible. —Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026

The gimmick works because Washington has always been the most physically legible of the founders. —Alexis Coe, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026

The front office’s response has been legible if not ambitious — keep the window cracked. —Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026

The talent of cinematographer Colm Hogan maintains every object and Scott legible to the eye during this extended passage where everything appears coated in gray hues. —Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026

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

Rhymes for legible

• illegible

Kids Definition

legible

adjective

leg·​i·​ble ˈlej-ə-bəl 

: capable of being read : plain

legible handwriting

legibility

ˌlej-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

legibly

ˈlej-ə-blē 

adverb