refutable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'refutable' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is capable of being disproved or refuted, or that can be argued against. For example, "The theory that aliens exist on Earth is refutable, given the lack of evidence to support it."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

New Relativism, as we shall see, offers a novel take on the old question of alethic relativism and gives weight to Alasdair MacIntyre's observation that relativism may have been refuted a number of times too often, whereas genuinely refutable doctrines only need to be refuted once (MacIntyre 1982: 22).

SEP

In opposition to Mill's view, according to which even logic and pure mathematics are empirical (i.e., are justifiable or refutable by observation), the logical positivists essentially following Frege and Russell had already declared mathematics to be true only by virtue of postulates and definitions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

With this thought — self-serving but not easily refutable — he takes his leave.

The New Yorker

Mr. Phillipos's lawyers, Derege B. Demissie and Susan B. Church, said in the court papers that the charges against their client were "refutable".

The New York Times

None of these assertions is refutable.

The New York Times

"If you say it's for survival, or it's just for play, or it's a side-effect of other [adaptive] abilities, then that is a reductive explanation," he continues, condensing the other three curations into refutable bites.

The Guardian - Arts

Evidence of regret is not refutable in the same way.

The New Yorker

Why did the Vice-President choose to tell such an easily refutable untruth?

The New Yorker

ACCURACY -- While Republicans may argue with the cost or likely efficacy of some of Mr. Kerry's policy initiatives, this spot has no refutable claims.

The New York Times

Equally refutable is the Brock allegation passed on by Bruni that while believing Vincent Foster committed suicide, Ted Olson (then our lawyer, now solicitor general of the United States) "encouraged conjecture that Foster might have been murdered".

The New York Times - Books

For example, the theorem mentioned establishes a connection between falsifiability and testability, but one that is more attenuated than the naïve Popperian envisions: it is not necessary that the hypotheses under test be directly falsifiable; rather, there must be ways of strengthening each hypothesis that yield a countable number of refutable "subhypotheses".

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing scientific theories, use "refutable" to show that a theory is scientific because it can be tested and potentially proven wrong, which is a core principle of the scientific method.

Common error

Avoid using "refutable" when you mean "refuted". "Refutable" means capable of being disproven, while "refuted" means it has already been disproven. For example, "The claim was refuted by evidence" (not refutable).

Linguistic Context

The word "refutable" functions as an adjective, describing something that can be proven false or shown to be incorrect. Ludwig examples show its usage in academic and news contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in writing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "refutable" is an adjective used to describe something capable of being proven false. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically sound and commonly found in academic, scientific, and news contexts. It's crucial to differentiate it from "refuted," which means already disproven. When writing, prioritize clarity and accuracy by using "refutable" to denote the potential for disproof and ensuring your sources are reliable. Alternatives include "disprovable" and "falsifiable".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disprovable

This alternative highlights the possibility of demonstrating something as false through evidence.

falsifiable

Similar to disprovable, this term emphasizes the possibility of being proven false through testing or observation.

liable to be disproven

Highlights the vulnerability of a claim to being invalidated.

susceptible to refutation

Emphasizes the openness of a claim to being disproved.

challengeable

This suggests that something can be questioned or disputed.

debatable

Implies the topic is open to discussion and argument.

contestable

Indicates something can be disputed or challenged.

open to question

Suggests that something is not definitively settled and can be queried.

subject to verification

Emphasizes the need for confirmation or validation.

not set in stone

Informal way of saying something is not fixed and can be changed.

FAQs

How can I use "refutable" in a sentence?

Use "refutable" to describe claims or theories that can be proven wrong. For example, "His hypothesis was "refutable" because it made specific predictions that could be tested."

What's a good alternative to "refutable"?

Alternatives include "disprovable", "falsifiable", or "challengeable", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "refutable claim" or "refuted claim"?

"Refutable claim" means the claim can be disproven, while "refuted claim" means the claim has already been disproven. Choose the one that fits the context.

What's the difference between "refutable" and "unfalsifiable"?

"Refutable" means a claim can be proven false, while "unfalsifiable" means it's impossible to prove false. A scientific theory should be "refutable", not unfalsifiable.