adjective

separable

SEP-er-uh-bul/ˈsepərəbl/

Able to be divided or treated as independent parts.

The container's lid and base are separable without breaking either part.

A two-piece plastic storage container with its removable lid lifted clear, aligned above the matching intact base.

Etymology

seLatinapart

+parLatinmake ready, prepare

+ableLatincapable of being

The elements “apart” and “make ready” combine in Latin separare, meaning “pull apart.” Separable describes something that can be pulled apart or disconnected, including things considered apart in thought.

In context

British Library62:01

there is like an affective um non-rational not the same as irrational drive for freedom for liberation for dignity that is not reducible to the desire for bread it's not separable it's part of the same thing

A Spectre Haunting: China Miéville on the Communist Manifesto

More examples

The report treats cost and quality as separable issues.
These layers are easily separable once the glue softens.
The project has three separable tasks that different teams can handle.

Forms

separable

separability noun — The ability to be divided into independent parts.

Similar words

detachable: Specifically describes a part removable from something it is attached to.
divisible: Emphasizes division into smaller portions rather than independent treatment.