Vindicability

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of being able to be justified or defended, particularly in legal or ethical situations
2. The condition in which something is capable of being proven right or validated, especially in arguments or claims
3. The state of being able to establish justification or defense in various contexts, particularly legal and moral circumstances

Etymology: In Latin, "vindex" was a legal term for a champion who stepped forward to claim or guarantee a person's freedom, or to answer for someone accused. The verb "vindicare" grew from it, meaning to lay claim to something or to set someone free. English "vindicate" first meant to liberate or avenge, and the sense of proving someone right developed later. "Vindicability" is a rare derivative, built by adding the suffix "-ability" to "vindicable," which is itself formed from "vindicate" plus "-able." The "-able" ending comes through French from Latin "-abilis," meaning capable of being. Its use is mostly confined to philosophical and argumentative writing, where a claim's capacity to be validated is the point at issue.