Cleansable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Capable of being cleaned or made free from dirt or impurities
2. Suitable for removal of contaminants, dirt, or stains, indicating a surface or object that can regain cleanliness
3. Able to undergo purification processes to restore its original condition, often referring to fabrics or materials

Etymology: "Cleansable" is a plain formation: the verb "cleanse" with the suffix "-able," meaning "capable of being," so the whole word means capable of being cleansed. "Cleanse" itself goes back to Old English "clǣnsian," from the adjective "clǣne," meaning clean, and the "-able" ending comes from Latin through Old French. The word has a Middle English precursor, "clennessabylle," which shows the same idea was being expressed centuries earlier, although its spelling and form differ considerably from the modern version. The modern word follows the regular pattern by which English attaches "-able" to verbs to describe what can be done to something, as in "washable" or "breakable."

Synonyms: washable, cleanable, removable

Antonyms: dirty, soiled