sizable

Sizable is an adjective that means fairly large in size or amount. It is used to describe objects with noticeable dimensions as well as quantities, numbers, or degrees that are significant without being extreme. For example, a sizable apartment suggests substantial living space, and a sizable donation indicates a substantial sum.

Spelling variations include sizable (common in American English) and sizeable (common in British English). Both forms are widely recognized and share the same meaning. The -ize spelling is typical of American usage, while the -able form is the traditional British variant; in practice, many style guides allow either spelling depending on regional conventions.

Usage notes: Sizable conveys a sense of considerable scale without implying vastness or enormity. It is generally more neutral than words like enormous and can be seen as less formal than substantial or considerable in some contexts. It commonly accompanies nouns such as amount, increase, crowd, or majority. Typical collocations include a sizable amount, a sizable increase, a sizable crowd, and a sizable majority.

Etymology: Sizable derives from the noun size plus the suffix -able, indicating the quality of being of a certain size. The two spellings reflect regional orthographic preferences—sizable in American English and sizeable in British English—both established in English usage for many centuries.