märkbar

Märkbar, often written merkbar in modern German, is an adjective meaning noticeable or detectable. It describes phenomena, changes, effects, or differences that can be perceived by observers or measured with instruments. In usage, it conveys that a perception or measurement is within the range of what can be recognized in practice.

Etymology and orthography: The term derives from merken (to notice) plus the suffix -bar, which forms adjectives meaning “able to be [noticed].” The standard modern spelling is merkbar; märkbar is a historical or dialectal variant and is generally avoided in contemporary formal writing. Some dictionaries note märkbar as an alternative spelling; in most modern texts merkbar is preferred.

Usage and examples: Merkbar is used in descriptive and evaluative writing to indicate perceptible change or difference. Examples include: Der Unterschied ist merkbar. Die Auswirkungen sind merkbar. Eine merkbare Veränderung wurde festgestellt. The word takes usual adjective endings (der merkbare Unterschied, die merkbaren Unterschiede, eine merkbare Steigerung). The adverbial use is merkbar as well, as in Es ist merkbar gewachsen.

Related terms and nuance: Synonyms include erkennbar, spürbar, wahrnehmbar, ersichtlich, and merklich (adverb). Merkbarkeit refers to perceptibility or recognizability, a noun form contrasting with the adjective. Märkbar remains a rare or archaic variant in many contexts, with merkbar serving as the standard in contemporary German.

See also: Observability and perceptibility in measurement, with related terms such as erkennbarkeit and ersichtlichkeit used in technical and scientific writing.