tunable

adjective

tun·​able ˈtü-nə-bəl How to pronounce tunable (audio)
ˈtyü-
1
: capable of being tuned
tunable lasers
2
archaic
a
: tuneful
b
: sounding in tune : concordant
tunability
ˌtü-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce tunable (audio)
ˌtyü-
noun
tunableness
ˈtü-nə-bəl-nəs How to pronounce tunable (audio)
ˈtyü-
noun
tunably
ˈtü-nə-blē How to pronounce tunable (audio)
ˈtyü-
adverb

Examples of tunable in a Sentence

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.
The company’s shoebox-sized tunable lasers are crucial to ensuring seamless transmission. — Naazneen Karmali, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Contrary to popular assumptions among scientists that BECs do not have individual identities, the researchers found that the condensate has an internal structure that is tunable with a magnetic field. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026 Between them was a tunable coupler that could be switched on or off. — ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026 In this case, regulation can be more responsive to nuances of context, and the regulatory knobs are tunable rather than being just on/off. — Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tunable

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of tunable was circa 1500

Browse Nearby Words

tuna
tunable
tunableness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tunable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tunable. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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