colorable
adjective
col·or·able
ˈkə-lə-rə-bəl 
-lər-ə-,
ˈkəl-rə-
1
: seemingly valid or genuine
a colorable claim in law
2
: intended to deceive : counterfeit
colorable and false pretenses
Examples of colorable in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Unlike sentencing review processes, which are not designed to prompt a full investigative review, conviction review can lead to a full re-examination of cases for which a colorable claim is advanced, and defendants need not wait 20 years before applying.
—
Jennifer Rodgers, CNN, 20 Sep. 2022
Given how strongly the NCAA tries to hold on to even the slightest word of dicta to try to claim antitrust immunity, the last thing Congress needs to do to college athletes right now is pass a statute that gives the NCAA’s lawyers another somewhat colorable claim of immunity.
—Marc Edelman, Forbes, 27 Apr. 2021
The lesson here for litigators is that if a UPEPA special motion is at least colorable and not asserted for purposes of delay, that motion should usually be brought.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023
Lunchtime can double as an art session or geography lesson with this colorable world map tablecloth.
—Catherine Garcia, The Week, 14 Nov. 2022
There are colorable constitutional objections to each of these proposals.
—Ian MacDougall, Harper’s Magazine , 28 Sep. 2022
Gromacki is particularly a fan of the colorable mats — just the thing to entertain guests at the kids’ table.
—Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, 8 Nov. 2021
There is not a single court in the country that has found his campaign’s claims to be credible and with good reason: There has been no evidence presented to support them and no colorable argument made to support the attacks.
—Janine Geske, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 27 Nov. 2020
Would Miranda have had a colorable defense premised on using unprotectable historical facts?
—Eriq Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Sep. 2019
Jennifer Rodgers, CNN, 20 Sep. 2022
Given how strongly the NCAA tries to hold on to even the slightest word of dicta to try to claim antitrust immunity, the last thing Congress needs to do to college athletes right now is pass a statute that gives the NCAA’s lawyers another somewhat colorable claim of immunity.
—Marc Edelman, Forbes, 27 Apr. 2021
The lesson here for litigators is that if a UPEPA special motion is at least colorable and not asserted for purposes of delay, that motion should usually be brought.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023
Lunchtime can double as an art session or geography lesson with this colorable world map tablecloth.
—Catherine Garcia, The Week, 14 Nov. 2022
There are colorable constitutional objections to each of these proposals.
—Ian MacDougall, Harper’s Magazine , 28 Sep. 2022
Gromacki is particularly a fan of the colorable mats — just the thing to entertain guests at the kids’ table.
—Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, 8 Nov. 2021
There is not a single court in the country that has found his campaign’s claims to be credible and with good reason: There has been no evidence presented to support them and no colorable argument made to support the attacks.
—Janine Geske, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 27 Nov. 2020
Would Miranda have had a colorable defense premised on using unprotectable historical facts?
—Eriq Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Sep. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'colorable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near colorable
Cite this Entry
“Colorable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colorable. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
colorable
adjective
col·or·able
: having an appearance of truth, validity, or right
if a colorable claim — or better — can be pleaded—D. F. Kolb and M. P. Carroll
D. F. Kolb and M. P. Carroll
colorably
adverb
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