Words / C1

y-dent-i-FEYE-uh-bl/aɪˌdentɪˈfaɪəbl/

Identifiable means able to be recognised as a particular person or thing: an identifiable respondent, identifiable costs. Identify (already in the dictionary) is the verb; anonymous sits opposite. A colourful quote is not a lawful anonymisation if the rota still names the shift.

Meaning

Able to be recognised or named.

Examples

• “Each night slice must be identifiable in the frame; a collage is not a codebook.”
• “An identifiable night worker in the appendix is a data-protection hole, not “rich colour”.”
• “Recognisable is everyday. Traceable is the audit twin. Colour is a quote. A shift name is a personal datum. Strip the name; keep the hours as a band if the ethics file requires it.”

Good to know

Able to be recognised. Verb: identify (already in the dictionary). A colourful quote ≠ lawful anonymisation.

Near in meaning

recognisable, traceable

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