Presumable

Presumable is an adjective describing something that is likely enough to be presumed or accepted as true in the given circumstances. It indicates a conclusion that is plausible based on available information, though not yet proven.

The term comes from the Latin praesumere, meaning "to take beforehand," and entered English with the -able suffix to indicate capability. It is used to denote what can reasonably be assumed under the circumstances.

Usage notes: Presumable describes what seems likely in a situation, but stops short of certainty. It is more cautious than "presumed" and generally lighter in force than "probable." In everyday language it is common, though in formal or legal writing it is used sparingly and often replaced by "likely" or "probable."

Examples: The presumable cause of the outage was a software fault. Her presumable arrival time is around six p.m.

See also: likely, probable, plausible; antonyms include certain and proven.