fermentable
|fer-men-ta-ble|
🇺🇸
/fɚˈmɛntəbəl/
🇬🇧
/fəˈmɛntəb(ə)l/
able to be fermented
Etymology
'fermentable' originates from Latin, specifically the noun 'fermentum' meaning 'leaven' or 'fermentation', combined with the English suffix '-able' meaning 'able to be'.
'fermentum' passed into Old French/Medieval Latin as 'ferment-' and into Middle English as 'ferment'; the adjective 'fermentable' was formed in English by adding the suffix '-able' to indicate capability.
Initially related to 'leaven' or the process of fermentation, the word evolved to mean 'capable of undergoing fermentation'; the basic sense of relation to fermentation has been retained.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a substance that can be fermented (often used in plural to refer to fermentable materials such as sugars in brewing or food science).
Brewers add fermentables to the mash to ensure sufficient fermentable material for the yeast.
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Adjective 1
capable of being fermented; able to undergo fermentation (especially of sugars or other organic compounds by microorganisms).
Fermentable sugars in the wort are essential for yeast to produce alcohol.
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Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/12 09:25