Referability

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The characteristic of something that allows it to be mentioned or cited in discussion or writing
2. The property making an item or concept suitable for reference or citation by others
3. The attribute that enables a person or thing to be pointed to or named in communication

Etymology: "Referability" is a plain formation from English "refer" and the suffix "-ability," and it is a late one. The verb "refer" came into English in the 15th century from Latin "referre," meaning "to carry back," and its sense of pointing to a source or authority grew out of that idea. The suffix "-ability" comes from Latin "-abilis," attached to a verb's stem to mean "able to be" something, so "referability" literally means "the quality of being able to be referred." The noun is an uncommon derivative, and its specific sense, suitability for citation, is a modern and technical extension rather than an old everyday usage. Dictionaries record it mainly in scholarly, legal, and reference-work contexts, where it describes whether a source is authoritative and precise enough to be cited. The formation follows the same pattern as words like "readability" and "searchability," which is why it can be built on the spot whenever a writer needs a name for that quality.

Synonyms: referencability