intelligible

/ɪnˈtɛlədʒəbəl/

/ɪnˈtɛlədʒəbəl/

Use the adjective intelligible to describe speech that is loud and clear, like the intelligible words of your principal which, thanks to a microphone, you were able to hear.

When your goal is to make your writing intelligible to anyone who reads it, you choose clear, precise words and give details that tell more about what you mean. You might also include examples. Intelligible comes from the Latin word intelligibilis, "that can understand or that which can be understood." The earlier meaning of intelligible was "able to understand," which today is closer to the meaning of intelligent.

Definitions of intelligible

1. adjective

   capable of being apprehended or understood
   synonyms: apprehensible, graspable, perceivable, understandable

   comprehendible, comprehensible

   capable of being comprehended or understood
2. adjective

   well articulated or enunciated, and loud enough to be heard distinctly
   “intelligible pronunciation”

   synonyms:

   comprehendible, comprehensible

   capable of being comprehended or understood

   antonyms:

   unintelligible

   poorly articulated or enunciated, or drowned by noise

   incomprehensible, uncomprehensible

   difficult to understand

   slurred, thick

   spoken as if with a thick tongue