Skip to content

Acceptable – Meaning, Definition, and Usage

Acceptable

🔊 US Loading... 🔊 UK Loading...

Introduction

The word “acceptable” is a widely used adjective in English, meaning something that is approved, satisfactory, or good enough for a particular purpose. It is commonly used in business, education, social interactions, and formal communication to describe things that meet a standard or requirement.

This article explores the definition, meaning, synonyms, antonyms, examples, and different uses of “acceptable” with SEO-friendly content to help it rank on Google.

Definition of Acceptable

1. General Definition

Acceptable (adjective) – Something that is good enough to be approved, tolerated, or agreed upon.

2. Formal & Business Definition

Acceptable – Meeting a standard, requirement, or expectation but not necessarily being the best option.

3. Social & Ethical Definition

Acceptable – Being morally or socially permissible and appropriate.

Etymology & Origin

The word “acceptable” originates from the Latin word acceptabilis, meaning “worthy of acceptance”. It evolved into Old French (acceptable) and later became the modern English form we use today.


Different Meanings & Usage of Acceptable

1. Something That Meets a Standard or Requirement

📌 Example: “The essay was of an acceptable quality but could have been better.”

2. Something That is Tolerated or Allowed

📌 Example: “Smoking in public places is no longer acceptable in many countries.”

3. Something Socially or Morally Appropriate

📌 Example: “It is not acceptable to insult others during a debate.”

4. Something Good Enough for a Specific Situation

📌 Example: “The price of the car was acceptable given its features.”


Synonyms of Acceptable

If you are looking for alternative words for acceptable, here are some common synonyms:

Satisfactory – Meeting the required standard but not exceeding expectations.
Adequate – Being just enough or good enough.
Reasonable – Fair or logical according to a situation.
Permissible – Allowed within a certain rule or limit.
Tolerable – Not great, but still good enough to be endured or accepted.

Antonyms of Acceptable

Here are some words that oppose the meaning of acceptable:

Unacceptable – Not meeting the required standard or approval.
Unsatisfactory – Not good enough for a particular purpose.
Inappropriate – Not suitable or proper for a situation.
Inferior – Below the required or expected quality.
Displeasing – Causing dissatisfaction or disapproval.


Examples of Acceptable in Sentences

📖 Formal Usage:
✔️ “Your performance in the test was acceptable, but there is room for improvement.”

📖 Business & Professional Usage:
✔️ “The company decided that a 5% price increase would be acceptable to customers.”

📖 Personal & Social Usage:
✔️ “It is not acceptable to talk loudly in a library.”

📖 Legal & Ethical Usage:
✔️ “The judge ruled that the evidence presented was acceptable in court.”

📖 Everyday Conversation:
✔️ “Wearing casual clothes is acceptable for the event, but formal attire is preferred.”

Acceptable in Different Contexts

1. In Business & Workplaces

  • An employee’s acceptable behavior ensures a positive work environment.
  • The company’s new policies are acceptable to all stakeholders.

2. In Education & Academia

  • A student must submit acceptable research work to pass the course.
  • The teacher gave an acceptable explanation of the topic.

3. In Social & Ethical Standards

  • It is acceptable to greet people with a handshake in formal settings.
  • Discriminatory language is no longer acceptable in modern society.

4. In Product & Service Quality

  • A customer expects acceptable service from a restaurant.
  • The hotel offered acceptable accommodations at an affordable price.

Common Phrases & Idioms Using Acceptable

🔹 Socially acceptable – Behavior or actions that society approves of.
🔹 Barely acceptable – Just meeting the minimum required standard.
🔹 Acceptable risk – A risk that is low enough to be considered manageable.
🔹 Acceptable compromise – A fair solution that both parties can agree on.
🔹 Acceptable limit – The highest or lowest level that is allowed.

Conclusion

The word “acceptable” is commonly used to describe things that meet a required standard, are approved, or are socially permissible. It is frequently used in business, education, personal interactions, and law to express approval or tolerance.

Understanding when and how to use “acceptable” correctly can improve your communication skills and help you express yourself more clearly.

Relative words of ‘A’

S.NoWords
1A
2Able
3Ability
4About
5Above
6Absence
7Abroad
8Absolute
9Absent
10Abstract
11Abuse
12Angry
13Access
14Annoy
15Acceptable
16Acceptance
17Accede
18Accept
19Abusive
20Academic
21Approve
Relative words of “A”