soluble

adjective

sol·​u·​ble ˈsäl-yə-bəl 

1

: susceptible of being dissolved in or as if in a liquid and especially water

2

: subject to being solved or explained

soluble questions

Did you know?

Soluble looks like a word that should be confined to chemistry labs, though it's often used by nonchemists as well to describe substances that can be dissolved in liquids. On the other hand, the sense of soluble meaning "solvable" is also quite common. In this sense, soluble, like its opposite, insoluble, is usually paired with problem. If only all life's problems were soluble by stirring them in a container filled with water.

Synonyms

• answerable
• explainable
• explicable
• resolvable
• solvable

Examples of soluble in a Sentence

Sugar is soluble in water.

one murder case that proved to be soluble after all

Recent Examples on the Web

Overnight Oats Overnight oats are easy to prepare and high in a kind of soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which may lower heart disease risk factors like high cholesterol and blood pressure. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 16 June 2025

Then there is the fruit's signature nutrient profile: 3 grams of fiber—one-third of which is soluble fiber known to reduce cholesterol—and 5 grams of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, which help lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025

Chia Seeds Chia seeds are rich in soluble fiber and quercetin, an antioxidant that may support heart health by reducing inflammation. —Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 9 June 2025

Inulin is a type of soluble fiber that is naturally found in various plants like chicory root. —Akshay Syal, NBC news, 31 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, digestible, laxative, from Late Latin solubilis, from Latin solvere to loosen, dissolve — more at solve

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for soluble

• indissoluble
• insoluble
• revoluble
• voluble

Kids Definition

soluble

adjective

sol·​u·​ble ˈsäl-yə-bəl 

1

: capable of being dissolved in a liquid

sugar is soluble in water

2

: capable of being solved or explained : solvable

a soluble problem

Medical Definition

soluble

adjective

sol·​u·​ble ˈsäl-yə-bəl 

1

: susceptible of being dissolved in or as if in a fluid

2

: capable of being emulsified

a soluble oil