serviceable
adjective
ser·vice·able
ˈsər-və-sə-bəl 
2
: fit for use
a serviceable design
also
: of adequate quality
… her serviceable but not exceptional voice … —
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Irving Kolodin 
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Someone who speaks serviceable Spanish isn't fluent in it but gets by pretty well. A serviceable jacket is practical and maybe even rugged. But serviceable sometimes damns with faint praise. A serviceable performance is all right but not inspired. Serviceable curtains aren't the ideal color or pattern, but they serve their purpose. A serviceable pair of shoes is sturdy but won't win you any fashion points.
Examples of serviceable in a Sentence
I bought an old but still serviceable bicycle.
be sure to wear serviceable shoes if you're going to be walking on the rocks along the shore
Recent Examples on the Web
Options such as epoxy flooring, which can help avoid grout maintenance, is an example of how Simque advises clients on serviceable solutions that align with operational realities.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Damien Williams have all been serviceable in years past but injuries marred the team’s success in that area.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Alone, a Whiskey Sour without an egg white is a serviceable, if incomplete, cocktail.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2026
After Murray suffered a foot injury, Brissett, 33, was more than serviceable in his 12 starts for the Cardinals.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for serviceable
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Jason Phillips, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Damien Williams have all been serviceable in years past but injuries marred the team’s success in that area.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Alone, a Whiskey Sour without an egg white is a serviceable, if incomplete, cocktail.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2026
After Murray suffered a foot injury, Brissett, 33, was more than serviceable in his 12 starts for the Cardinals.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for serviceable
Cite this Entry
“Serviceable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serviceable. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
serviceable
adjective
ser·vice·able
ˈsər-və-sə-bəl
1
: prepared for or capable of service : useful
2
: lasting or wearing well in use
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