Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Possible to see; perceptible to the eye.
  • adjective Obvious to the eye.
  • adjective Being often in the public view; conspicuous.
  • adjective Manifest; apparent.
  • adjective On hand; available.
  • adjective Constructed or designed to keep important parts in easily accessible view.
  • adjective Represented visually, as by symbols.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Perceivable by the eye; capable of being seen; open to sight.
  • Apparent; open; conspicuous: as, a man with no visible means of support.
  • In entomology, noting parts which are not concealed by other parts, as the spiracles when they are not concealed under the hard parts of the integument: opposed to covered
  • noun That which is seen by the eye.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Perceivable by the eye; capable of being seen; perceptible; in view
  • adjective Noticeable; apparent; open; conspicuous.
  • adjective (Theol.) the apparent church of Christ on earth; the whole body of professed believers in Christ, as contradistinguished from the invisible, or real, church, consisting of sanctified persons.
  • adjective Same as Apparent horizon, under Apparent.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Able to be seen.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective capable of being seen; or open to easy view
  • adjective present and easily available
  • adjective obvious to the eye

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin vīsibilis, from vīsus, past participle of vidēre, to see; see vision.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin visibilis ("that may be seen"), from Latin videre ("to see"), past participle visus; see vision.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word visible.

Examples

  • 'In the past few weeks, wingnut America has been going through a rough break-up with two of its most visible and attractive young women, and by \ "most visible\" I really mean the only young women even tangentially associated with the Republican party, conservative movement, or whatever they\'re calling themselves these days.

    Will Menaker: Meghan McCain: What Are You Doing This Friday? 2009

  • The _invisible_ life on this planet is unquestionably far greater than the _visible_ but both visible and invisible doubtless belong to the planet earth.

    Cosmic Consciousness

  • Recently, one of the leading Republican candidates for president, Texas Governor Rick Perry was reported to have taken friends, colleagues and contributors hunting on a ranch widely known as Niggerhead -- a name visible on a large rock at its entrance.

    Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.: The GOP's Ongoing Lack of Respect Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. 2011

  • Recently, one of the leading Republican candidates for president, Texas Governor Rick Perry was reported to have taken friends, colleagues and contributors hunting on a ranch widely known as Niggerhead -- a name visible on a large rock at its entrance.

    Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.: The GOP's Ongoing Lack of Respect Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. 2011

  • Recently, one of the leading Republican candidates for president, Texas Governor Rick Perry was reported to have taken friends, colleagues and contributors hunting on a ranch widely known as Niggerhead -- a name visible on a large rock at its entrance.

    Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.: The GOP's Ongoing Lack of Respect Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. 2011

  • Recently, one of the leading Republican candidates for president, Texas Governor Rick Perry was reported to have taken friends, colleagues and contributors hunting on a ranch widely known as Niggerhead -- a name visible on a large rock at its entrance.

    Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.: The GOP's Ongoing Lack of Respect Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. 2011

  • (Mr. Margiela leaves four stitches securing the label visible on the outside of the garment.)

    Tales From the Couture Dry Cleaners 2008

  • As they slept, a tearful Packy Noonan was sitting on the stump of their beloved tree holding a machete in his hand, the beam of his flashlight pointing to the name visible on the handle: Wayne Covel.

    The Christmas Thief Mary Higgins Clark 2004

  • As they slept, a tearful Packy Noonan was sitting on the stump of their beloved tree holding a machete in his hand, the beam of his flashlight pointing to the name visible on the handle: Wayne Covel.

    The Christmas Thief Mary Higgins Clark 2004

  • As they slept, a tearful Packy Noonan was sitting on the stump of their beloved tree holding a machete in his hand, the beam of his flashlight pointing to the name visible on the handle: Wayne Covel.

    The Christmas Thief Mary Higgins Clark 2004

  • Some 100 million people in the world live with a facial scar, mark or disease that creates “visible difference”, the term used by advocacy groups.

    ‘People say, just get surgery, and I’m like: Bruh, this is after surgery’ Fay Bound Alberti 2024

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.