bankable
|bank-a-ble|
/ˈbæŋkəbəl/
able to be relied on to make money
Etymology
'bankable' originates from English, specifically from the base word 'bank' combined with the suffix '-able', where 'bank' referred to a financial 'bank' (ultimately from Old Italian 'banca') and '-able' meant 'capable of' or 'worthy of'.
'bank' came into English via Middle French 'banque' and Old Italian 'banca' meaning 'bench' or 'table' used by money-changers; Middle English took this into 'bank/banke' meaning a financial institution, and modern English formed the adjective 'bankable' (attested from the late 19th to early 20th century) by adding the productive suffix '-able'.
Initially related to a 'bench' or 'table' used by money-changers, the sense shifted to a financial institution ('bank'); 'bankable' originally could imply 'able to be deposited or accepted by a bank' and has since evolved chiefly to mean 'capable of generating profit or being relied on (financially or commercially)'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
likely to make a profit or attract financial backing; commercially viable or profitable (often used of films, projects, or personalities).
She is a bankable movie star who guarantees large audiences.
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Adjective 2
dependable or reliable; likely to produce the expected result (used figuratively of people or things you can count on).
He's always been bankable in a crisis — you know he will deliver.
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Adjective 3
(rare/technical) Acceptable to a bank for deposit or as collateral; able to be banked.
Only bankable securities will be accepted under the terms of the loan.
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Last updated: 2026/01/11 22:11