"Extensible" vs. "extendible"

Question

Where does the adjective form extensible come from and does it connote anything different than extendible? What's the difference, if any, between the two?

...additionally, is there a difference between extendible and extendable? — SF., Nov 07 '12 at 08:09
Historical comparison: https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=extendable%2Cextensible&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cextendable%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cextensible%3B%2Cc0 — Myer, Jul 07 '16 at 08:29
@MattE.Эллен ... I'm pretty sure you understood the question just as well with or without research... — , Nov 08 '17 at 14:27
and what research would he have used?
If he did any research, there would not be a point in not only asking, but posting the question; he'd've had his answer. — , Nov 08 '17 at 14:27
@MattE.Эллен if everyone did research, then there would be no point in any asking question on this site now would there? — , Nov 08 '17 at 14:49
Yes. For when the research you've done doesn't answer the question you have. We're not asking for doctoral theses, just look in a dictionary. — Matt E. Эллен, Nov 08 '17 at 14:53
@AspWri88 There's some good answers here (since 2012). How about selecting one as the right answer? — beldaz, Feb 20 '19 at 04:14
@SF. See also Difference between "extendable" and "extensible" on English Language Learners. The answer seems interesting: "inherently extensible" vs "extendable by snapping on additional lengths of hose". — imz -- Ivan Zakharyaschev, Oct 24 '21 at 12:12

score 105 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 07 '12 at 07:32

105

It appears that I probably draw a finer distinction here than others may, but the good thing is that for those that say the two are interchangeable, my usage will seem unremarkable, and for those that care, my usage will seem consistent.

I use extendable in cases where it means the opposite of retractable. In other words, a telescoping wand is extendable, the legs of my camera tripod are extendable.

I use extensible when I mean that the functionality of something may be increased or enhanced by the addition of an extension- an add-on module or component. My web browser is extensible because I can add an Adobe Flash extension which allows me to view flash content. I think it would sound a bit odd to talk about my web-browser being extendable.

answered Nov 07 '12 at 07:32

Jim

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So, if you can buy special attachments for your tripod that will allow you to mount different equipment upon it, then I suppose you'd have an extensible, extendable tripod. – J.R. Nov 07 '12 at 08:43
2

You may be right. I like your nuance. – tchrist Nov 07 '12 at 13:41
In this usage, extendable seems to have a perspective from the outside in, whereas extensible seems to be from inside out. – chrisdillon Feb 27 '16 at 15:08
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This distinction reminds of farther vs. further. – 0 _ Sep 24 '17 at 05:39
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Sad that you thought about Flash. Good that you didn't say you added that extension. – 0xc0de Nov 21 '17 at 04:52
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@0xc0de - Well it was 2012.... :-) – Jim Nov 21 '17 at 13:51
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Best answer when factoring in software development terminology. – Rafe Oct 31 '18 at 18:24
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I like this: extendable means it can be made bigger by itself; extensible means it can be made bigger by adding something (an extension). – CSJ Nov 28 '19 at 14:16
@CSJ, fantastic(ally succint) summary, the best so far! – Sz. Aug 27 '23 at 11:33

score 31 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 07 '12 at 05:35

31

There are lots and lots of these. They usually came to us that way straight from Latin, and seldom mean anything different from each other. One may be more rare than another, though.

comprehendible, comprehensible
corrodable, corrodible, corrosible
defendable, defensible
deridable, derisible
dividable, divisible
evadable, evasible
expandable, expansible
explodable, explosible
extendible, extensible
inevadible, inevasible
invadable, invasible
offendable, offensible
persuadable, persuasible
protrudable, protrusible
reprehendable, reprehensible
rescindable, rescindible
revisable, revisible
subdividable, subdivisible
suspendible, suspensible
undefendable, undefensible
undividable, undivisible

answered Nov 07 '12 at 05:35

tchrist

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hopefully no one mistakenly confuses sensible and sendable :) – Andy Jan 10 '17 at 01:38
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if it is not sensible it is not sendable – Andrew Jan 19 '17 at 01:54
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When spelling in English couldn't get any easier – Nov 08 '17 at 14:21

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 01 '16 at 11:58

The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style (2000) says:

Other variant adjectives, though, are merely duplicative. Typical examples are extendable, extendible, and extensible. The first of these is now prevalent in AmE (though labeled obsolete in the OED). Extensible was, through the mid-20th century, the most common form, but today it trails extendable by a substantial margin, while extendible continues to appear infrequently. Writers and editors ought to settle on the most firmly established form--extendable, which is as well formed as the variants--and trouble their minds with weightier matters.

https://books.google.com/books?id=z_VmtjAU01YC&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4

score 2 · Answer 4 · edited Jan 04 '15 at 19:38

2

The Oxford Dictionary for Writers & Editors says:

extendible, not -able, but in general use extensible not -able

edited Jan 04 '15 at 19:38

tchrist

134,759

answered Jan 04 '15 at 18:08

Julia Dawson

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And the Wiktionary has an entry for extendable. – 0 _ Sep 24 '17 at 05:42

score 1 · Answer 5 · edited Mar 05 '14 at 11:17

1

I use the terms as Jim does in the context of Computer Science. In a computer program, if I add subroutines or blocks it is extendable - I can add more blocks. If the program is extensible, the individual blocks may be made more complex by modification, usually adding flexibility.

edited Mar 05 '14 at 11:17

Crowie

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answered Jul 04 '13 at 12:34

kaustin6969

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"made more complex by modification, usually adding flexibility". You might make them more complex, or you might simplify them. A technique used is to add flexibility, but flexibility can be a characteristic of extensible code. In short - I think your answer can be improved – Crowie Mar 05 '14 at 11:15

score 1 · Answer 6 · edited Nov 07 '12 at 08:47

In WordReference site, its given that extensible means capable of being extended.

extend/ɪkˈstend/ verb

1 make larger or longer in space or time.
• occupy a specified area or continue for a specified distance.

2 hold (something) out towards someone.
• offer or make available.

3 (extend to) be applicable to.

4 strain or exert to the utmost.

– derivatives
extendability noun,
extendable adjective,
extendibility noun,
extendible adjective,
extensibility noun,
extensible adjective.

Also want to add some info got from another useful source,

Extensible seems to me to indicate stretchability whereas extendable suggests an opening out or lengthening. An elastic band is extensible, i.e.: it can be stretched, whereas my lunch hour is extendable, i.e.: it can be added to, but an hour is an hour and cannot be stretched. There is also extensile which seems to mean the same as extensible.

It would be good if you could cite the source from which you quote. — Jim, Nov 07 '12 at 07:15

"Extensible" vs. "extendible"

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