Monitorable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. The aspect of a system or process that allows for tracking and observation in order to facilitate analysis and management
2. The trait that enables regular oversight and measurement of performance or changes through observation
3. Capable of being watched and checked for changes or progress over time

Etymology: "Monitorable" is a plain formation: the noun "monitor" with the suffix "-able," which turns a noun or verb into an adjective meaning "able to be" or "capable of being" acted upon. Here the sense is "capable of being monitored," so something monitorable can be observed, measured, or tracked over time. The base word has the more striking history. "Monitor" came into English from Latin "monitor," meaning a reminder or one who admonishes, from the verb "monere," "to warn, remind." Its earliest English sense was therefore close to a warning or a teacher's rebuke, not a device that watches. The sense of a person or thing that observes and checks other things developed later, and that is the sense the adjective draws on. Because "-able" attaches so readily to verbs, "monitorable" follows the same pattern as words such as "measurable" and "traceable." It is most often used of things that can be checked continuously, such as financial figures, health indicators, or the performance of systems.

Synonyms: observable, trackable

Antonyms: unmonitorable