habile

H4A1B3I1L1E1
/ˈhæbəl//ˈhæbɪl/uncommon/ˈhæbaɪl/

adjective

Generally able or adroit; handy.

OriginMiddle English habil ← Old French habile ← Latin habilis →
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Meanings

adjectivehabile (comparative more habile, superlative most habile)

comparative more habile · superlative most habile

  1. Generally able or adroit; handy.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
adroitaptconsummatemasterlyskilled

Origin

  1. Latinhabilis“suitable; apt”
  2. Old Frenchhabile
  3. Middle Englishhabil
  4. Englishhabile

From Middle English habil, from Old French habile, from Latin habilis (“suitable; apt”), from habeō (“to handle”). Doublet of able.

More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian умел, изкусен
  • умел (umel)1. Generally able or adroit; handy
  • изкусен (izkusen)1. Generally able or adroit; handy
German fähig, tüchtig
  • fähig1. Generally able or adroit; handy
  • tüchtig1. Generally able or adroit; handy
Polish zręczny, zwinny
  • zręczny1. Generally able or adroit; handy
  • zwinny1. Generally able or adroit; handy
  • zgrabny1. Generally able or adroit; handy
Spanish hábil
  • hábil1. Generally able or adroit; handy

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Bahile
Cite this entry
APA

habile. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/habile

MLA

“habile.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/habile. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “habile,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/habile.

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