palatability
|pal-at-a-bil-i-ty|
/ˌpælətəˈbɪlɪti/
suitability or pleasantness to the taste; acceptability
Etymology
'palatability' originates from English, specifically formed from the adjective 'palatable' plus the nominalizing suffix '-ity', where 'palatable' meant 'suitable for the palate' or 'pleasant to the taste'.
'palatable' entered English from Old French 'palatable', which in turn derived from Latin 'palatum' meaning 'palate' (the roof of the mouth); the English noun 'palatability' developed later by adding '-ity' to 'palatable'.
Initially, the root sense related specifically to the physical palate and 'suitability for the palate' (i.e., pleasing to taste), but over time the meaning broadened to include general acceptability or agreeableness beyond just taste.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality of being pleasant or acceptable to the taste; how agreeable food or drink is when tasted.
The palatability of the new cereal was evaluated in a consumer taste test.
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Noun 2
the degree to which something (an idea, proposal, or product) is acceptable or agreeable to people; overall acceptability.
Policymakers are concerned about the palatability of the reform among voters.
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Noun 3
in animal nutrition and pharmaceutics, the extent to which feed or medicine is readily consumed or accepted (how easy it is for animals/people to ingest).
Manufacturers altered the flavorings to improve the palatability of the veterinary paste.
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Last updated: 2025/12/22 12:00