dispensable

B2
US /dɪsˈpɛnsəbəl/
adj noun Freq #65845

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    capable of being dispensed with or done without

    dispensable items of personal property

  2. 2
    adj

    Capable of being dispensed.

    The reward could be a preferred food, a sticker, blowing some bubbles, a noisemaker the child enjoys, a pat on the back, or some other easily dispensable reward that does not take the child away from the task at hand for more than a moment or two.

  3. 3
    adj

    Subject to dispensation; possible to relax, exempt from, or annul.

    Jones' use of the term 'Ecclesiastical Law' in his definition of dispensations in Roman Catholic canon law points to the Roman Catholic distinction between divine law, from which no dispensation is possible, and merely ecclesiastical law, which is dispensable in certain circumstances.

  4. 4
    adj

    Not essential to be taken in as part of an organism's diet, as it can be synthesized de novo.

    The difference in absorption rate is not surprising since whey has a high percentage of indispensable amino acids, which are absorbed more rapidly than dispensable amino acids.

  5. 5
    adj

    Able to be done without; easily replaced.

  6. 6
    noun

    Something that can reasonably be dispensed with; something unnecessary.

Etymology

From dispense + -able.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
2 adj · capable of being dispensed. distributable
4 adj · not essential to be taken... nonessential
5 adj · able to be done without;... disposableexpendableinessential
Word family
Derived forms dispensablenessundispensable
Related forms dispensarydispense

Send feedback

Optional — only if you'd like a reply.