Definition of tenable

Email this page to a friend

< ten.

tenace >

ten·a·ble    (tn-bl) KEY 

ADJECTIVE:

1. Capable of being maintained in argument; rationally defensible: a tenable theory.
2. Capable of being held against assault; defensible: a tenable outpost.

---

ETYMOLOGY:
French, from Old French, from tenir, to hold, from Latin tenre; see ten- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
tena·bili·ty or tena·ble·ness(Noun), tena·bly(Adverb)