Skip to main content
allowable

allowable

13 2.7
Rules or laws permit it
  • adjective
  • /əˈlaʊəbl/
translation icon : permitido
  • The 1982 amendments set firm limits on the allowable time period for section 7 consultations.

He wants things, you know what the broad parameters of what is allowable to teach.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Modern management measures must include setting allowable levels for ocean recreation, in addition to limits to fishing.

    Academic text (1993)
  • A late submission is only allowable if prior approval has been granted.

  • So all allowable X values that you can have in your function.

  • And therefore that would be, it would be good, not only allowable, but good.

  • But again based on discussion, we have those allowable values, right?

  • Land without water is not allowable.

  • A minute or two early was allowable, but 10 seconds late would be fatal.

  • In addition, the designer has identified the allowable options to consider to solve the distribution problem.

    Academic text (1997)
  • The second starts by setting performance standards, such as the maximum allowable amount of nutrients from animal waste runoff.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Sick-child care is an allowable use of sick days for 70 percent of U.S. teachers.

    Academic text (1994)

Synonyms

legitimate
vsallowable
602 4.2

Allowed by law or fair rules

emphasizes permission rather than justification by law or standards
acceptable
vsallowable
477 2.5

Good enough for a particular use or standard

stresses permission and rule compliance rather than just adequacy
valid
vsallowable
348 3.1

Accepted by law, by an official, or for good reason

focuses on being allowed rather than being legally in force or logical
lawful
vsallowable
  • Formal
82 2.9

Allowed by the law

covers permission from many rules, not only legal approval
admissible
vsallowable
  • Formal
42 6.8

Allowed or accepted, especially as evidence in court

is general permitted status across rules and standards rather than court evidence use
permissible
vsallowable
37 4.1

Allowed by law, rules, or custom

focuses on general permission rather than a specific legal ruling
licit
vsallowable
  • Formal
1 7.7

Something the law or rules allow

has identical meaning but appears as a different lexical form
approvable
vsallowable
1 4.1

Good enough for people in charge to accept

is actual permission under rules, not only potential for approval
conformant
vsallowable
  • Specialized
1 6.4

Meeting required rules and standards

focuses on being permitted rather than only matching technical requirements
conformable
vsallowable
  • Formal
1 7.5

In agreement with a rule or standard

relates to permission under rules rather than mere consistency with them
noncontraband
vsallowable
  • Formal
6.5

Allowed by law and not illegal

is broader, applying to permission under rules, laws, or standards
approved
vsallowable
  • Formal
1.5

Officially accepted by a person or group in charge

means general permission under rules rather than formal official authorization
sanctionable
vsallowable
  • Formal
7.2

Suitable for official approval by an authority

expresses practical permission rather than merely being fit for approval

Antonyms

256 3.2

Not good enough or not allowed by rules

prohibited
  • Formal
1 3.7

Not allowed by law or by an authority

How Permissible

legitimate
602 4.2
acceptable
477 2.5
allowable
13 2.7
restricted
18 3.9
forbidden
96 3.2

Surface Forms

allowable positive

Morphology

allowable = allow (transparent) = allow + able

The adjective is formed by adding the productive suffix '-able' to the verb 'allow', yielding the clear meaning 'permitted'.

Etymology

Allowable comes from allow (which originally meant 'to approve' or 'praise') plus the ending -able meaning 'can be'. So something allowable is 'can be allowed' — that is, 'permitted' or 'acceptable' under the rules.