able-bodied

adjective

able-bod·​ied ˌā-bəl-ˈbä-dēd How to pronounce able-bodied (audio)
: having a sound strong body

Examples of able-bodied in a Sentence

every able-bodied young man in the village had been sent off to fight in the war
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
An able-bodied, 35-year-old undocumented male, for example, would not qualify, officials said. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 27 July 2025 The fandom also allowed ARMY members to make friends around the world, friendships that survived the pandemic and the band’s absence when all seven members had to fulfill the mandatory military duty required of able-bodied Korean males. Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 The bill does eliminate coverage for non-citizens here illegally and imposes a work requirement on able-bodied adults with no children. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 23 July 2025 Under the new law, policymakers limited windows of eligibility for able-bodied adults to every six months. Katheryn Houghton, NPR, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for able-bodied

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of able-bodied was in 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Able-bodied.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/able-bodied. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

able-bodied

adjective
able-bod·​ied
ˌā-bəl-ˈbäd-ēd
: having a healthy strong body : physically fit

More from Merriam-Webster on able-bodied

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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