Jump to content

questionable

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

[edit]

Alternative forms

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From question +‎ -able.

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • IPA(key): /ˈkwɛst͡ʃənəbl̩/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: ques‧tio‧nable

Adjective

[edit]

questionable (comparative more questionable, superlative most questionable)

  1. Problematic; open to doubt or challenge.
    It is questionable if the universe is open or closed.
    • 1881, Henry James, Jr., chapter 3, in The Portrait of a Lady, New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company [], →OCLC, page 28:
      A crude, cold rain was falling heavily; the spring-time presented itself as a questionable improvement.
    • 2024 August 26, Mikael Thalen, “MAGA turns to roadkill-eating anti-vaxer with a brain worm to ‘Make America Healthy Again’”, in The Daily Dot[1]:
      MAHA went viral across social media and led to an explosion of questionable claims regarding health and wellness.
  2. Of dubious respectability or morality.
    Tiffiny’s behavior is highly questionable.
    • 1920, Carolyn Wells, chapter 18, in Raspberry Jam[2], Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, page 302:
      [] he had a love of money—a sort of acquisitiveness, that led him into questionable dealings.
  3. (obsolete) Inviting questions; inviting inquiry.

Derived terms

[edit]

Descendants

[edit]
  • German: fragwürdig (calque)

Translations

[edit]