sable

1 of 2

noun

sa·​ble ˈsā-bəl 

plural sables

1

a

: the color black

b

: black clothing worn in mourning

—usually used in plural

2

a or plural sable

(1)

: a carnivorous mammal (Martes zibellina) of the weasel family that occurs chiefly in northern Asia

(2)

: any of various animals related to the sable

b

: the fur or pelt of a sable

3

: the usually dark brown color of the fur of the sable

sable

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of the color black

2

: dark, gloomy

Synonyms

Adjective

• black
• ebony

Examples of sable in a Sentence

Noun

a brush made of sable

Adjective

a beautiful sable cat

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As The Times described the day: In white and black tie, in sequins and sables and clouds of perfume, Republican revelers stepped out tonight to the most lavish series of inaugural balls ever held in the nation’s capital. —Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025

The best Christmas cookie tins are filled with colorful sugar cookies, sprinkled gingerbread, linzers, spritzes, shortbread or sables, crinkles or crackles, even wedding cookies or special chocolate chip cookies — because why not? —Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Finish with artful desserts by Pastry Chef Salvatore Martone, including a strawberry chantilly rose with pistachio sable and a silky white chocolate sabayon with salted caramel. —Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Disney World: Both Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon will be open this summer Cast members monitored Tucker’s actions with other savanna residents such as zebras, sable antelopes and springbok. —Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Middle Low German sabel sable or its fur, from Middle High German zobel, of Slav origin; akin to Russian sobol' sable or its fur

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sable

• able
• chaebol
• fable
• label
• stabile
• stable
• table
• allocable
• educable
• integrable
• purchasable
• thermostable

Kids Definition

sable

noun

sa·​ble

ˈsā-bəl

plural sables

1

: the color black

2

a

or plural sable : a meat-eating mammal of northern Europe and Asia related to the martens and valued for its soft rich brown fur

b

: the fur or pelt of a sable

sable adjective