What does legible mean?
Word: Legible
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Legible means clear enough for someone to read, especially when written by hand.
Synonyms: readable, clear
Antonyms: unreadable
Word origin: Comes from the late Latin word legibilis, from legere, meaning to read.
How do you spell legible?
Syllables: leg - i - ble
Tricky part: The soft g sound tempts students to slip in a d, as they would in ledge or bridge.
Watch out for: ledgible, ledgibly
Memory tip: A legend was once a thing to be read, so it is a cousin of this word. Like legend, it has no d before the g.
Legible in a sentence
Example 1: Please write the address in large letters so that it is legible to the courier.
Example 2: The ink had faded, but the old letter from Dadaji was still legible.
Example 3: Her notes are so legible that the whole class borrows them before a test.
Fun Fact
Britain's road signs use a lettering called Transport, designed around 1960 to stay legible to drivers moving at speed.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Champ
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
leg______
a) uble
b) ible
c) eble
d) able
Show answer
b) ible. This adjective takes the same ending as visible and possible.
Word Twins
Choose the correct option to fill both blanks:
1. Priya's handwriting is so neat that every word is ___. 2. Pupils under fourteen are ___ for the junior quiz.
a) 'eligible' in both
b) 'legible' in both
c) eligible/legible
d) legible/eligible
Show answer
d) legible/eligible. Neat writing can be read easily, while pupils who meet a rule have the right to enter.
Sound Check
In which word is 'g' pronounced differently?
a) region
b) tragic
c) legible
d) gimmick
Show answer
d) gimmick. Gimmick has the hard g of go; the other three have the soft g of giant.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
gilbeel 1234567
a) 3512647
b) 3412756
c) 6513472
d) 3512476
Show answer
d) 3512476. The digits lead through the jumble to legible.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A pupil's answers are not legible. What is the teacher most likely to say?
a) Please write more neatly next time.
b) Please add more examples next time.
c) Please use a longer ruler next time.
d) Please finish a little sooner next time.
Show answer
a) Please write more neatly next time.
2. What would make a notice board poster more legible?
a) a heavier wooden frame behind it
b) a bright cloth border around it
c) bold letters with clear spacing
d) a higher place in the corridor
Show answer
c) bold letters with clear spacing
