debatable

adjective

de·​bat·​able di-ˈbā-tə-bəl 

dē-

1

: claimed by more than one country

debatable border territory

2

a

: open to dispute : questionable

the debatable wisdom of his advice

b

: open to debate

3

: capable of being debated

debatably

di-ˈbā-tə-blē 

dē-

adverb

Synonyms

• arguable
• controvertible
• disputable
• doubtable
• doubtful
• issuable
• moot
• negotiable
• questionable

Examples of debatable in a Sentence

it's always debatable which college football team is really number one, since there's more than one ranking system

the debatable wisdom of going back for another helping from the buffet

Recent Examples on the Web

Biden hoped more supply would lead to lower prices at the pump, which worked then (though to what degree is debatable). —Byalicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 6 June 2024

The evidence that Trump’s business records were falsified is debatable, turning on the meaning of the word retainer. —The Editors, National Review, 29 May 2024

Because Dallas has the best two players in this series — and that’s not particularly debatable. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 May 2024

Whether the measure has anything to do with homelessness is debatable. —Calmatters, The Mercury News, 20 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

debatable

adjective

de·​bat·​able di-ˈbāt-ə-bəl 

: open to question or dispute

a debatable decision

debatably

-blē 

adverb