fixable

Fixable is an adjective meaning capable of being repaired, corrected, or restored to a desired condition. In everyday usage, something described as fixable can be repaired with available parts or methods, often without a major overhaul. The term is formed from the verb fix plus the suffix -able, indicating potentiality rather than certainty.

Contexts and usage: In consumer electronics, a device is considered fixable if a replacement component or standard repair can restore function. In software, a bug may be fixable with a patch; some defects are not fixable because of architectural constraints or irreproducibility. In machinery and everyday objects, fixable implies a practical repair is feasible given cost and availability of spare parts.

Relation to related terms: Fixable overlaps with repairable, mendable, and solvable, but usage patterns differ. Repairable tends to appear in formal or technical writing, while fixable often conveys a practical or everyday sense. Mendable is less common, and solvable emphasizes a solution rather than a physical repair.

Limitations and considerations: Not every problem is fixable. Physical damage may exceed what parts or expertise can address, or the cost of repair may exceed item value. In sustainability discussions, fixability is a central metric for repairability and planned obsolescence analyses.

See also related concepts such as repairability, mendability, and solvability.