Words / B2

ED-uh-bl/ˈedəbl/

Edible means safe or suitable to eat: edible fungi; barely edible. Eatable is a close twin; palatable means pleasant to eat; inedible is the opposite; poisonous is a stronger warning. Mark the species edible only if the field guide says so. Mix-up: edible vs incredible; edible as a brand; do not write edible for a restaurant slogan with no species or safety test.

Meaning

Safe or suitable to eat (opposite inedible).

Examples

• “Mark the species edible only if the field guide says so, the biology practical said.”
• “Edible oil featured in the nutrition table, which is the food-use sense — still quote the fat per 100 g.”

Good to know

edible fungi / plants / oil; barely edible. Opposite: inedible. Close: eatable / palatable. Trap: incredible. Biology and food science. Safe to eat — cite the field guide or the table, not a slogan.

Near in meaning

eatable, palatable, safe to eat

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