WordGarden.ioretrievable
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /rɪtrˈiːvəbəl/
US
- /rɪtrˈiːvəbəl/
Meanings
Adjective
able to be found, recovered, or brought back
able to be fetched or recovered from a digital system or stored data
able to be recalled or brought back to mind
Beyond the definition
Imagine you hid your favorite toy as a child, but you left a few clues behind so you could find it again. That toy is retrievable—you can get it back. It describes something that can be recovered, found, or accessed, often after some effort.
A lost file on a computer might be retrievable with special software. A useful detail from a conversation long ago might still be retrievable from your memory. Sometimes things are easily retrievable, and sometimes they take more work to find. In tech or legal settings, "retrievable data" usually means information that can still be found or brought back, even if it seems hard to reach at first.
The word retrievable describes something capable of being recovered, obtained, or accessed, especially after a period of loss, difficulty, or inaccessibility. It implies the possibility of regaining something that has been hidden or misplaced, whether physically, digitally, or conceptually.
Think about sunken treasure: if it is retrievable, divers have a way to find it and bring it back to the surface. Or consider a memory: even if it has faded, a strong scent or a familiar song might make that moment retrievable in your mind.
The context often dictates how something is retrieved. In computer science, "retrievable data" refers to information that can be pulled from storage devices, even after accidental deletion. In archaeology, a retrievable artifact is one that can be carefully excavated and studied rather than being lost to time. In the realm of personal growth, "retrievable skills" are those you learned in the past and can reactivate when they are needed again.
The key idea behind retrievable is not just that something is missing; it is that it can still be recovered. It suggests a path back to access, even if that path takes effort or special tools. So, if something is retrievable, there is still a real chance of getting it back.
Examples
- 1
File organization
Make sure the file names are clear, so each document is easily retrievable later.
- 2
Records storage
The customer records are stored in a searchable database and remain retrievable for seven years.
- 3
Deleted messages
Once the message was deleted from both devices, it was no longer retrievable from the app.
See also
Similar
- recoverable
- accessible
- findable
Shades of meaning
- searchable
- restorable
- downloadable
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- retrievable data
- retrievable from backup
- easily retrievable
- information is retrievable
Word family
Explore
- data recovery
- indexing
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- retrievableadjective