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replaceable

C2
Uncommon

Pronunciation

UK

  • /rɪplˈeɪsəbəl/

US

  • /ˌriˈpleɪsəbəl/

Meanings

Adjective

  1. able to be replaced or substituted by another person or thing

  2. not so necessary or valued that losing it would matter much

Beyond the definition

Imagine building with LEGO bricks. If one brick breaks, it is replaceable because you can find another one and keep building. That is the basic idea. Something replaceable can be changed for something similar without causing a big problem.

We often use this word for everyday things. A dead battery, a broken light bulb, or a worn-out part in a machine can all be replaced with another one. But it can also be used about people, sadly. If someone feels that any other worker, friend, or partner could take their place, they may feel unimportant. So the word is not only practical; it can also feel personal.

Examples

  1. 1

    Home safety

    The smoke alarm has a replaceable battery.

  2. 2

    Repairs

    Look for a laptop with a user-replaceable SSD if you want easier repairs.

    • Phraseuser-replaceable

      able to be replaced by the customer

  3. 3

    Building materials

    Most of the glass panels are cheap and easily replaceable.

  4. 4

    Workplace insecurity

    After the merger, many employees started to feel replaceable.

    • Phrasefeel replaceable

      feel that other people could do your job just as easily

More examples
  1. 5

    User trust

    The software can be updated, but the trust of your users is not so easily replaceable.

See also

Similar

Shades of meaning

Contrast

Used with (collocations)

  • easily replaceable
  • replaceable part
  • replaceable battery

Word family

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Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • replaceableadjective