adjective
- capable of being passed through, beyond, or over; fit to be traversed, penetrated, crossed, etc., as a road, forest, or stream.
- adequate; acceptable: a passable knowledge of French.
- capable of being circulated legally or having a valid currency, as a coin.
- capable of being or liable to be ratified or enacted: passable legislation.
adjective
- adequate, fair, or acceptablea passable speech
- (of an obstacle) capable of being passed or crossed
- (of currency) valid for general circulation
- (of a proposed law) able to be ratified or enacted
adj.early 15c., “that may be crossed,” from pass (v.) + -able, or from Old French passable “fordable, affording passage” (14c.). Sense of “tolerable” is first attested late 15c. Related: Passably.