arguably

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UK/ˈɑːɡjuəbli/US/ˈɑɹɡjuəbli/

adverb

As can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty.

Less commonScrabble 14

Meanings

adverbarguably (comparative more arguably, superlative most arguably)

comparative more arguably · superlative most arguably

  1. As can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty.

    By random chance alone, 99 times out of 100, the Lions should have won an NFL or NFC championship. Worse for arguably the league’s unluckiest fan base, the Lions haven’t really been competitive.

    2022 February 12, Harry Enten, “Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Rams: The unluckiest sports teams and other Super Bowl musings”, in CNN, archived from the original on 20 Aug 2025
    2 more examples

    In the early 1770s the bogey figure for opposition politicians was arguably not so much North in the Commons as Mansfield behind the curtain, the country's greatest lawyer (and another Caledonian to gratify the Scotophobes) keeping an irresolute Cabinet committed to waging war in America.

    2004, Barry Coward, Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theory in Early Modern Europe: From the Waldensians to the French Revolution

    To exploit travel economies of scale, RAIL buys a four-in-eight-day Rail Rover. This is now known as the 'Spirit of Scotland Travelpass', although older users may remember it as the 'Freedom of Scotland' - arguably a better name.

    2025 March 5, “Ayr miles with a 'Spirit of Scotland'”, in RAIL, number 1030, page 43

    Synonyms: possibly, defensibly, disputably

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbAs can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂erǵ-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂érǵus
  3. Proto-Italic*argusder.?
  4. Latinarguō
  5. Old Frencharguer
  6. Middle Englisharguen
  7. Englishargue
  8. Englisharguable
  9. Englisharguably

From arguable + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 按理說 /按理说, 可以說 /可以说
  • 按理說 /按理说 (ànlǐ shuō)as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
  • 可以說 /可以说 (kěyǐ shuō)as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Danish velsagtens
  • velsagtensas can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Dutch onderbouwbaar, verdedigbaar
  • onderbouwbaaras can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
  • verdedigbaaras can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Finnish luultavasti, otaksuttavasti
  • luultavastias can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
  • otaksuttavastias can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
French probablement, sans doute
  • probablementas can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
  • sans douteas can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
  • possiblementas can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
  • peut-êtreas can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
German vertretbarerweise, wohl
  • vertretbarerweiseas can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
  • wohlas can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Polish zapewne
  • zapewneas can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Portuguese provavelmente, discutivelmente
  • provavelmenteas can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
  • discutivelmenteas can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Russian как мо́жно доказа́ть
  • как мо́жно доказа́ть (kak móžno dokazátʹ)as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Spanish argüiblemente
  • argüiblementeas can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Swedish enligt mångas förmenande
  • enligt mångas förmenandeas can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Turkish tartışmalı şekilde, tartışmasız
  • tartışmalı şekildeas can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
  • tartışmasızas can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty
Cite this entry
APA

arguably. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arguably

MLA

“arguably.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arguably. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “arguably,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arguably.

Source: arguably on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.