🛟 Able to float 💻 Convertible to number

floatable

1 3.2

Can float on water or stay in the air

adjective
/ˈfloʊtəbl/

: flotante

The caterpillar will eventually become a butterfly, but first it must float on the surface as a floatable pupa.

Examples

This inflatable raft is floatable and perfect for a day on the river.
So they have this thing it's like a floatable dock.
We need to ensure that the life jackets are floatable so they keep passengers safe in the water.

Synonyms

buoyant

vsfloatable

Specialized

6 5.3

Able to float in water or rise in air

is about staying on the surface or suspended rather than rising

floaty

vsfloatable

4 4.2

Light, soft fabric like a dress or curtains that moves easily in the air

is a neutral physical ability without implying soft or airy quality

flotant

vsfloatable

Archaic

8.2

Floating on water without sinking

is broader, covering surface or gas suspension not only water

nonsubmergible

vsfloatable

Specialized

9.9

Cannot sink in water

is about staying on surface or suspended rather than merely not sinking

Antonyms

sinkable

1 5.8

Able to go below the surface of the water and stay there

How Buoyant

buoyant

Specialized

6 5.3

floatable

1 3.2

non-buoyant

1 7.6

Surface Forms

floatable positive

Morphology

floatable = float (transparent) = float + able

Direct, regular derivation from the verb 'float' with the productive adjectival suffix '-able'; meaning 'capable of floating' is straightforward.

Etymology

Floatable comes from the verb float meaning 'to stay on the surface' and the ending -able meaning 'can be', just like a boat that stays on top of water. So, floatable means 'can float' or 'will not sink'.