Contestible

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Capable of being argued against or questioned as to its validity or correctness
2. Subject to being challenged or refuted by opposing argument or evidence
3. Open to being challenged or contradicted by contrary evidence or viewpoint

Etymology: "Contestible" is a plain formation: the verb "contest" with the suffix "-ible," which attaches to verbs to mean "able to be" or "capable of being" something. So a contestible claim, election or ruling is one that can be challenged or disputed. The noun and verb "contest" reach English from Latin "contestari," meaning "to call witnesses," literally "to bear witness together." That origin is still visible in the sense that a contest is a formal struggle over a claim, not just a game. Its adjective form, though, is the newer part of the story, built on the English verb itself rather than inherited from Latin.

Synonyms: contestable, disputable, debatable, questionable

Antonyms: uncontestable, indisputable