Questionable

Questionable is an English adjective used to describe something that is doubtful, uncertain, or potentially problematic. It can refer to the truth or reliability of a claim, the ethics or legality of a behavior, or the quality or fitness of an object or result. In neutral use it signals that verification or further scrutiny is warranted; in evaluative contexts it often conveys warning or disapproval.

Etymology: The term is formed from question plus the suffix -able. It derives from the noun “question,” which comes via Old French question and ultimately from Latin quaestio, meaning “a seeking” or “a question.” The adjectival sense “worthy of being questioned” dates to the late Middle Ages and persists in modern English.

Usage and nuance: In formal writing, questionable is a hedging term, used when the speaker wants to avoid a firm assertion, for example about study results or methods. In journalism and everyday speech, it can express skepticism about a claim, a source, or an action. It is weaker than “dubious” or “suspicious” and can be closer in tone to “uncertain” or “imperfect.”

Contexts: A claim may be described as questionable; a product’s safety could be questionable; a person’s conduct can be questionable. The phrase “questionable ethics” is common, as are “questionable evidence” or “questionable legality.”

See also: doubt, skepticism, dubious, controversial.