different between questionable vs debatable

English

Alternative forms

• quæstionable (archaic)

Etymology

question +? -able

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?kw?st???n?bl?/
• Hyphenation: ques?tio?nable

Adjective

questionable (comparative more questionable, superlative most questionable)

1. Problematic; open to doubt or challenge.

   It is questionable if the universe is open or closed.

   • 1881, Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady, London: Macmillan, Volume I, Chapter 3, p. 28,^[1]

     A crude, cold rain was falling heavily; the spring-time presented itself as a questionable improvement.

2. Of dubious respectability or morality.

   Tiffiny’s behavior is highly questionable.

   • 1920, Carolyn Wells, Raspberry Jam, Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, Chapter 18, p. 302,^[2]

     […] he had a love of money—a sort of acquisitiveness, that led him into questionable dealings.

3. (obsolete) Inviting questions; inviting inquiry.
   • c. 1600, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act I, Scene 4,^[3]

     Thou com’st in such a questionable shape

     That I will speak to thee.

Derived terms

Translations

English

Etymology

From Old French debatable (French débattable).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): [d??be?t?b??]

Adjective

debatable (comparative more debatable, superlative most debatable)

1. Open to debate; not fully proved or confirmed.

   Those data are debatable: no one has been able to replicate them.

   It's debatable whether he is the best candidate for the position.

2. Able to be debated; up for discussion.

   The lack of bonuses this year is not debatable.

Derived terms

• debatably

Translations

Noun

debatable (plural debatables)

1. A topic that is open to debate.
   • 1988, Ray Barr, 1,001 medical facts for every home (page 314)

     Just how many glaucoma patients there are in the United States and just how prevalent is the disease are two unknowns or at least two debatables.