potable
/'poutəbl/
Definition
Adjective:
- Suitable for drinking; safe to consume as a drink. This describes a liquid, typically water, that is free from harmful contaminants and meets health standards for human consumption.
Noun:
- A liquid that is suitable for drinking. This refers to any beverage or drinkable liquid.
Usage and Examples
Adjective:
- After the flood, ensuring a supply of potable water was the top priority.
- The stream looked clear, but we weren't sure if it was potable.
Noun (less common, often formal or technical):
- The emergency kit included several liters of potable.
- The ship must carry enough potable for the entire voyage.
Advanced Usage and Notes
- The term is most frequently used as an adjective, particularly in formal, technical, or official contexts related to public health, engineering, and survival situations.
- As a noun, its use is more specialized and less common in everyday conversation than synonyms like "beverage" or "drink."
Variants and Related Words
- Potability (noun): The state or quality of being drinkable.
- Engineers tested the potability of the well water.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Drinkable, safe to drink.
- Noun: Beverage, drink.
Antonyms
- Adjective: Nonpotable, undrinkable, contaminated.
Related Phrases and Technical Usage
- Potable water: The most common collocation, referring specifically to water that is safe for drinking and cooking.
- The campsite had access to potable water from a treated tap.
- Non-potable water: Water that is not safe for drinking, often used for irrigation, flushing, or industrial purposes.
- Use the non-potable water for watering the garden, not for drinking.
Adjective
-
suitable for drinking
Noun
-
any liquid suitable for drinking
-
may I take your beverage order?
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