distractible
|dis-tract-i-ble|
🇺🇸
/dɪˈstræktəbəl/
🇬🇧
/dɪˈstræktɪb(ə)l/
able to have attention pulled away
Etymology
'distractible' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the adjective/root 'distract' plus the suffix '-ible', where '-ible' (from Latin) meant 'capable of being'.
'distract' in English comes via Middle English and Old French from Latin 'distrahere' (past participle 'distractus'); the adjective 'distractible' is a later Modern English formation combining 'distract' + '-ible' to mean 'capable of being distracted'.
Initially related to the Latin sense 'to draw apart; to pull away', over time the focus shifted to attention being 'pulled away', yielding the current meaning 'capable of having attention diverted'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
easily drawn away from concentration; likely to have one's attention diverted.
She is distractible during long, noisy meetings.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/12 10:22