potable

1 of 2

adjective

po·​ta·​ble ˈpō-tə-bəl How to pronounce potable (audio)
 military often  ˈpä-
: suitable for drinking
potability noun
potableness
ˈpō-tə-bəl-nəs How to pronounce potable (audio)
 military often  ˈpä-
noun

potable

2 of 2

noun

: a liquid that is suitable for drinking
especially : an alcoholic beverage

Examples of potable in a Sentence

Adjective around here, the only potable water comes from wells Noun hid the potables in the back hall closet keeps the wet bar stocked with an array of top-shelf liquors, mixers, and other fine potables
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The law allows HOAs to use potable water to irrigate trees and other non-turf plantings. HOAs must achieve compliance with this new law by Jan. 1, 2029. Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2024 These islands are a true pack-in and pack-out situation, with no potable water in the park, no food for sale, and vault toilets here and there. Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2024 Israel imposed a prolonged blockade, denying Palestinians adequate food, potable water, fuel, Internet access, shelter, and medical care: action amounting to collective punishment. Agnès Callamard, Foreign Affairs, 15 Feb. 2024 Technically, that water isn’t considered potable, so it’s used for agriculture and industry. Matt Simon, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2024 Her top recommendation is to have drinking and potable water on hand, because a major earthquake is likely to disrupt water supplies. Erick Mendoza, NBC News, 9 Feb. 2024 But many factors determine the potable water output of a reverse osmosis system, including the pressure, flow rate, water salinity, and type of reverse osmosis membranes that are used. IEEE Spectrum, 21 Dec. 2023 Direct potable reuse has for years been a strategy in other water-scarce parts of the world, including Namibia and Singapore. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2023 That the unemployment rate in Gaza is forty-five per cent, the water barely potable, electricity and food in short supply, the health-care system in ruins. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2023
Noun
That outlook bodes well for Beck and her partner, Tyler Trotter, who between them have logged almost 40 years in the beer industry and whose passion for potables is embodied in their selection of an old Unitarian church as the home for their flagship temple of beer. Valerie Rains, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2023 Meanwhile, a study by Puerto Rico’s Chemistry Association published in late 2021 found the presence of heavy metals linked to coal in potable water in Salinas. DÁnica Coto, ajc, 29 Jan. 2023 For days last August, people waited in lines for water to drink, bathe, cook and flush toilets in Mississippi's capital as some businesses were temporarily forced to close for lack of potable water. Arkansas Online, 2 Dec. 2022 Winter storms have brought incredible cold temperatures to the state and power outages and burst pipes have many Texans without heat, food or even potable water. oregonlive, 18 Feb. 2021 Even Georgina’s ability to draw scarce potable water from a nearby spout is controlled by people prejudiced against her—which, like her other troubles, is a ripple caused by a larger force. Danielle MacKey, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2022 Most of the potable water, wastewater, electrical and communications lines on the pier were installed when it was built and need to be replaced after years of exposure to the marine environment. San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Dec. 2022 Nine days after the storm struck, only 13 had arrived — and thousands of people across the island were still without potable water. Wilma Maldonado, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'potable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Late Latin potabilis, from Latin potare to drink; akin to Latin bibere to drink, Greek pinein

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of potable was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near potable

Cite this Entry

“Potable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potable. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

potable

adjective
po·​ta·​ble
ˈpōt-ə-bəl
: suitable for drinking
potability
ˌpōt-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
noun

Medical Definition

potable

1 of 2 adjective
po·​ta·​ble ˈpōt-ə-bəl How to pronounce potable (audio)
: suitable for drinking
potable water

potable

2 of 2 noun
: a liquid that is suitable for drinking
especially : an alcoholic beverage

More from Merriam-Webster on potable

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