deductible

1 of 2

adjective

: allowable as a deduction
expenses that are deductible from taxable income

deductible

2 of 2

noun

plural deductibles
: the amount of financial loss specified in an insurance policy that the insurer will not be held responsible for and that the insurance holder must pay
The deductible on your insurance is the amount of money on an insurance claim you would pay before the insurance company pays. It's what you'll be paying out of pocket prior to the insurance coverage.Steve Fiorillo
also : a clause in an insurance policy that relieves the insurer of responsibility for an initial specified loss of the kind insured against

Examples of deductible in a Sentence

Adjective The trip was deductible as a business expense. Noun I have an insurance policy with a $1,000 deductible.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The preservice charge could be all or part of a remaining deductible, for example, or a sizable percentage of what the visit or treatment might cost. Julie Appleby, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 The form reports gross payments, not your profit, so business owners generally need to subtract deductible business expenses to determine taxable income. Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
The average deductible in family coverage offered by employers is $3,762 per person, according to KFF, while the average deductible in Affordable Care Act plans jumped 37% this year to a similar amount, $3,786. Julie Appleby, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 Raising your deductible is a reasonable way to lower your premium. Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deductible

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1856, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deductible was in 1856

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Cite this Entry

“Deductible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deductible. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

Legal Definition

deductible

1 of 2 adjective
: allowable as a deduction

deductible

2 of 2 noun
: a clause in an insurance policy that relieves the insurer of responsibility for an initial specified loss of the kind insured against
also : the amount specified in such a clause compare franchise sense 4a

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