curable

Everyday

1. (of an illness or injury) Able to be cured or made completely better. tree →
2. (of a problem) Able to be fixed or put right. tree →

In the lessons

Used in health and science lessons and in family news about illness: doctors may say an illness is curable, which brings hope. It tells the reader there is a way to get better. Opposite: «incurable». Phrases: «easily curable», «curable with medicine», «if caught early, it is curable».

Examples

• Most ear infections are easily curable with medicine. tree →
• The doctor said Grandpa's illness is curable. tree →
• Many diseases that were once deadly are now curable. tree →
• Head lice are annoying but curable. tree →
• Shyness is curable — with a bit of practice. tree →
• If it is found early, the illness is often curable. tree →

Note

Made from «cure» + «-able»: the e is dropped. Opposite «incurable». «Curable» (can be cured) is different from «treatable» (can be helped or controlled, even if not fully cured). Do not confuse with «durable» (lasting a long time).