Possible

Possible is an adjective in English describing something that may occur, be true, or exist. It expresses potentiality rather than certainty, and contrasts with terms such as certain, probable, or feasible. As a noun, possible is uncommon; more typical nouns are possibility or potential.

The word derives from Latin possibilis, from posse 'to be able' plus -ibilis, meaning "able to be." In everyday use, possible is often paired with adverbs such as perhaps, maybe, or possibly, or with the modal verb may.

In philosophy and logic, the term is central to discussions of possibility and necessity. The adverb possibly marks an epistemic or metaphysical possibility, and the notion of possible worlds is used in modal logic to analyze statements about what could be true or true in other ways.

Common phrases include "a possible solution," "the possible outcomes," and "within the possible budget." The phrase "the possible" appears in certain constructions but is relatively rare compared with possibility.

See also: possibility, possibility theory, modal logic, possible world, feasibility.