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

Van Dijk’s goal against Arsenal was one, with Ibrahima Konate’s header against Wolverhampton Wanderers the other — although even that second one is debatable, given 30 seconds elapsed between Andy Robertson’s corner and the centre-back heading home. —Andy Jones, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024

The responsibility for Scope 3 emissions is debatable. —Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

The third example of potential self-harm is highly debatable as a safety violation. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

When asked by Kennedy if trans athletes are at an advantage, Baker said the idea was debatable. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 18 Dec. 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