actionable

action +‎ -able. Compare Late Latin actionabilis. See action.

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈæk.ʃə.nə.bəl/, IPA^(key): /ˈæk.ʃən.ə.bəl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

actionable (comparative more actionable, superlative most actionable)

1. That can be acted on; that can be used as the basis for taking action.
   • 2015, Scott Ritter, London Review of Books, vol. 37 no. 13:

     By 1996 most of Unscom’s leads had dried up and my need for actionable information was such that the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) agreed to deal with me directly.

2. (law) Affording grounds for legal action.
   • 1892 October 14, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “The Adventure of a Case of Identity”, in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, London: George Newnes, […], OCLC 4551407, page 74:

     "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal constraint."

   I'm sure it's not good of me to write that he's a lush, but is it actionable?

   Clearly the libelous book is actionable, but I'm not commenting on anything to do with legal issues.