substitutable

USAGE SUMMARY

"substitutable" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe something that can be replaced or substituted for something else. For example, "This recipe calls for apples, but any other substitute fruit could be used as a substitutable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

E.g.,     φ → Universal Instantiation: ∀αφ → φ, where φ is the result of uniformly substituting τ for the free occurrences of α in φ and τ is substitutable for α (i.e., no variable free in τ becomes bound by any quantifier in φ.

SEP

Maybe you get one boom and bust, but thereafter it should be clear that high values in coastal cities aren't sustainable, because they just shift demand to Phoenix or Houston.But housing across cities isn't perfectly substitutable.

The Economist

Supply growth in places like Phoenix will slow even as values rise.To put things another way: if it seemed as though housing in one city were perfectly substitutable for housing in another, then so long as supply were flexible somewhere we wouldn't expect wild price gyrations to come one after the other.

The Economist

Perhaps governments should redirect their investment into natural capital instead, restocking their forests rather than their libraries.The idea that natural assets are substitutable makes some environmentalists (including some contributors to the report) nervous.

The Economist

He assumes that workers of different types are not easily substitutable for each other, but that immigrants and natives within each category are.

The Economist

If, on the other hand, there are many easily substitutable means of distributing entertainment, then much of the power will rest with whoever owns the content.

The Economist

These businesses shift Samsung away from easily substitutable gadgets towards more essential industrial goods (see table)—or from "infotainment" to "lifecare", as the company puts it.

The Economist

The authors develop a theoretical model to show that if a product is made using two substitutable inputs, one of which is "dirtier" but also cheaper than the other, then the market will not only tend to generate too much pollution but also produce a self-reinforcing cycle of innovation in the dirty product as researchers build on previous breakthroughs.

The Economist

It also implies that they are substitutable.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Tungsten is a non-substitutable material, so demand will continue and we see the low tungsten price as a temporary thing".

Independent

The other prioritises meeting universal human needs, which are limited, sufficient, non-substitutable and with clear ethical grounding.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the interchangeability of goods or resources, ensure the context clearly indicates the degree to which they are truly "substitutable". For example, specify whether they are perfectly substitutable or only substitutable to a certain extent.

Common error

Avoid assuming that all "substitutable" items are perfectly interchangeable. Even if two items can be used as substitutes, they may have different qualities, costs, or effects that make them not entirely equivalent.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "substitutable" functions to describe something that can be used in place of something else. It indicates the capacity for one item to serve as a replacement for another, as Ludwig AI highlights in its analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Encyclopedias

22%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substitutable" is a versatile adjective used to describe something capable of being replaced by another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable. It appears frequently in news, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using "substitutable", it's crucial to consider the degree of interchangeability to avoid overgeneralizations. Semantically related terms include "interchangeable" and "replaceable", each with slightly different connotations. The examples provided by Ludwig highlight its use across various disciplines, reinforcing its broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

interchangeable

Indicates a higher degree of equivalence and ease of exchange.

replaceable

Emphasizes the ability to replace something without affecting functionality.

exchangeable

Highlights the act of swapping one thing for another, often with similar value.

fungible

Specifically used in economics to describe goods that are mutually interchangeable.

commutable

Suggests the ability to change or exchange positions or roles.

equivalent

Focuses on having the same value, use, or meaning.

alternative

Implies a choice between two or more possibilities.

proxy

Referring to someone or something that acts as a substitute.

serving as a substitute

More verbose alternative that explicitly states the role of substitution.

able to be replaced

A more descriptive phrase emphasizing the capability of being replaced.

FAQs

How can I use "substitutable" in a sentence?

You can use "substitutable" to describe items that can be used in place of one another. For instance, "Soybean oil is substitutable for peanut oil in many recipes."

What words are similar to "substitutable"?

Similar words include "interchangeable", "replaceable", and "exchangeable", each with slightly different nuances.

Is it correct to say something is "non-substitutable"?

Yes, "non-substitutable" is a valid term to describe something that cannot be replaced. For example, "Tungsten is a non-substitutable material in certain applications."

In economics, what does it mean for goods to be "substitutable"?

In economics, "substitutable" goods are those that consumers can use in place of one another. If the price of one good increases, consumers may switch to a "substitute good".