serviceable
adjective
ser·vice·able
ˈsər-və-sə-bəl 
2
: fit for use
a serviceable design
also
: of adequate quality
her serviceable but not exceptional voice —
Irving Kolodin
Irving Kolodin 
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Someone who speaks serviceable Spanish isn't fluent in it but gets by pretty well. A serviceable jacket is practical and maybe even rugged. But serviceable sometimes damns with faint praise. A serviceable performance is all right but not inspired. Serviceable curtains aren't the ideal color or pattern, but they serve their purpose. A serviceable pair of shoes is sturdy but won't win you any fashion points.
Examples of serviceable in a Sentence
I bought an old but still serviceable bicycle.
be sure to wear serviceable shoes if you're going to be walking on the rocks along the shore
Recent Examples on the Web
Alone, a Whiskey Sour without an egg white is a serviceable, if incomplete, cocktail.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
Tonally, Regretting You is all over the place, a perfectly serviceable Hallmark movie subjected to unnecessary ironic smarts.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
Jacksonville got to 4-1 by adhering to a specific diet, consisting of an elite pass defense, a serviceable run game and just enough digestible passes of their own to get by.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The sketch itself was … serviceable!
—Charu Sinha, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for serviceable
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Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
Tonally, Regretting You is all over the place, a perfectly serviceable Hallmark movie subjected to unnecessary ironic smarts.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
Jacksonville got to 4-1 by adhering to a specific diet, consisting of an elite pass defense, a serviceable run game and just enough digestible passes of their own to get by.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The sketch itself was … serviceable!
—Charu Sinha, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for serviceable
Cite this Entry
“Serviceable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serviceable. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
serviceable
adjective
ser·vice·able
ˈsər-və-sə-bəl
1
: prepared for or capable of service : useful
2
: lasting or wearing well in use
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