How Do You Spell COLOURABLE?

Pronunciation: [kˈʌləɹəbə͡l] (IPA)

Colourable is a word that refers to something that appears to be true or valid, but is actually deceptive or false. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is /ˈkʌlərəbəl/, where the stressed syllable is marked with a primary stress symbol. The spelling of this word is derived from the British English spelling of color, which is spelt with a 'u'. The suffix -able, meaning "capable of being or suitable for", is added to the base word colour to form the adjective colourable.

COLOURABLE Meaning and Definition

1. Colourable is an adjective that is used to describe something that appears to be believable or genuine, but in reality, it is deceptive or misleading. The term is often used in legal contexts to refer to arguments, claims, or actions that are presented with an appearance of validity but lack substance or merit when closely examined.

   In the legal realm, a colourable claim or argument is one that has an outward appearance of credibility but is actually based on false or invalid reasoning. It is often presented to mislead or deceive others, such as a court or an opposing party, into believing that there is a genuine issue or valid legal basis. Colourable claims may rely on technicalities, misinterpretations of law, or creative interpretations of facts, but lack genuine legal merit.

   Beyond the legal domain, colourable can also refer to deceptive or misleading appearances in general. This can apply to various contexts such as advertising, politics, or personal relationships. For instance, a colourable promise might appear sincere and reliable, but in reality, it is meant to deceive or manipulate.

   To summarize, colourable is an adjective used to describe something that seems believable or valid on the surface, but is actually deceptive or lacking substance when subjected to closer scrutiny. It often relates to arguments, claims, or actions that give a false appearance of credibility in order to mislead or deceive others.

2. Specious; plausible.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for COLOURABLE

• coloreable
• colorable
• Colorible
• xolourable
• volourable
• folourable
• dolourable
• cilourable
• cklourable
• cllourable
• cplourable
• c0lourable
• c9lourable
• cokourable
• copourable
• cooourable
• coliurable
• colkurable
• collurable
• colpurable

Etymology of COLOURABLE

The word "colourable" derives from the Middle English term "colourable", which ultimately traces back to the Old French word "colorable". In turn, "colorable" came from the Latin word "colorabilis", which is derived from "color", meaning "color" or "hue". The term "colourable" entered the English language in the 15th century and originally meant "capable of being colored" or "having color". Over time, its meaning evolved to refer to something that appears genuine or plausible on the surface but is actually deceptive or misleading.