Definitions for facileˈfæs ɪl; esp. Brit. -aɪl

ADVERTISEMENT

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

fac•ileˈfæs ɪl; esp. Brit. -aɪl(adj.)

  1. quick in comprehension or action:

    a facile mind.

  2. superficial; shallow:

    a facile answer to a hard question.

  3. easily accomplished or attained:

    a facile performance.

  4. fluent; effortless:

    a facile writing style.

  5. Archaic. easy or unconstrained, as manners or persons.

Origin of facile:

1475–85; < L facilis easy =fac(ere) to make, do1+-ilis -ile1

fac′ile•ness(n.)

Princeton's WordNet

  1. facile(adj)

    arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth

    "too facile a solution for so complex a problem"

  2. facile(adj)

    performing adroitly and without effort

    "a facile hand"

  3. eloquent, facile, fluent, silver, silver-tongued, smooth-spoken(adj)

    expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively

    "able to dazzle with his facile tongue"; "silver speech"

Wiktionary

  1. facile(Adjective)

    Easy, now especially in a disparaging sense; contemptibly easy.

  2. facile(Adjective)

    Amiable, flexible, easy to get along with.

    His facile disposition made him many friends.

  3. facile(Adjective)

    Effortless, fluent (of work, abilities etc.).

  4. facile(Adjective)

    Lazy, simplistic (especially of explanations, discussions etc.).

  5. facile(Adjective)

    Of a reaction or other process, taking place readily.

    Decarboxylation of beta-keto acids is facile...

  6. Origin: From facile, from facilis, from .

Webster Dictionary

  1. Facile(adj)

    easy to be done or performed: not difficult; performable or attainable with little labor

  2. Facile(adj)

    easy to be surmounted or removed; easily conquerable; readily mastered

  3. Facile(adj)

    easy of access or converse; mild; courteous; not haughty, austere, or distant; affable; complaisant

  4. Facile(adj)

    easily persuaded to good or bad; yielding; ductile to a fault; pliant; flexible

  5. Facile(adj)

    ready; quick; expert; as, he is facile in expedients; he wields a facile pen


Translations for facile

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

easy(adjective)

not difficult

This is an easy job (to do).

Get even more translations for facile »


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"facile." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2013. Web. 21 May 2013. <http://www.definitions.net/definition/facile>.


The Web's Largest Resource for

Definitions & Translations


A Member Of The STANDS4 Network


Nearby & related entries:

Alternative searches for facile: