acceptable

Acceptable is an adjective used to describe something that meets required standards, criteria, or expectations, and is generally considered satisfactory or permissible. It does not imply excellence but indicates adequacy for a given purpose or audience.

Etymology: from Latin acceptabilis via Old French acceptable. The form entered English in the late Middle Ages; historically used in moral, legal, and administrative language; today it appears in everyday discourse as well as formal writing.

In practice, what is acceptable depends on context: an acceptable answer satisfies minimum criteria; an acceptable risk is one deemed tolerable relative to benefits; an acceptable use policy defines allowed activities; in quality control, the acceptable quality level specifies a maximum percentage of defectives.

Notes: Acceptable is relative and culturally dependent; it can be contested; related terms include permissible, tolerable, adequate, satisfactory, and suitable; opposite term is unacceptable. Examples: The committee approved the plan as acceptable after revisions; The data met acceptable quality standards.