Unterscheidbare

Unterscheidbare is a German adjective meaning distingiushable or able to be distinguished. It describes objects, properties, or statements that can be differentiated from each other by a criterion or comparison. The word is formed from the verb unterscheiden (to distinguish) with the suffix -bar, which conveys the sense of “capable of being.”

Declension and usage

The form of the adjective changes with gender, number, and case. Examples include:

- eine unterscheidbare Eigenschaft (feminine singular, indefinite article)

- die unterscheidbare Eigenschaft (feminine singular, definite article)

- das unterscheidbare Merkmal (neuter singular, definite article)

- ein unterscheidbares Merkmal (neuter singular, indefinite article)

- unterscheidbare Merkmale (plural, no article)

- die unterscheidbaren Merkmale (plural, definite article)

In predicative use you can also say: Das Ergebnis ist unterscheidbar.

Context and domain

In everyday language, unterscheidbare describes things that can be told apart. In mathematics, logic, or philosophy, it is used to refer to objects that can be distinguished by some property or criterion, e.g., “Zwei Punkte sind unterscheidbar, wenn es eine Eigenschaft gibt, die sie differenziert.” The term underscores the idea of separability or distinguishability within a classification or comparison.

Nominalization and related forms

The base adjective is unterscheidbar. The attributive feminine singular form is unterscheidbare, and the plural form without a determiner is unterscheidbare Merkmale or, with a definite article, die unterscheidbaren Merkmale. A rare nominalized form is das Unterscheidbare, meaning “the distinguishable thing,” but it is uncommon in ordinary prose.

See also

Unterscheidung, Unterscheidbarkeit, unterscheidbar.