winnable
Meaning
able to be won or achieved
Structure
Usage
the game was close, but ultimately winnable for our team.
with a strong strategy, the contract is definitely winnable.
they focused their campaign on key, winnable districts.
Etymology
The adjective 'winnable' is a Modern English formation, combining the native English verb 'win' with the productive Latinate suffix '-able'. The Old English root winnan originally carried a broader sense of struggling or contending, which naturally narrowed to the specific struggle for victory. The suffix '-able', entering English via Old French from Latin -abilis, is used to form adjectives indicating passive possibility. Therefore, the literal construction "capable of being won" directly and logically yields the modern meaning, describing a contest, prize, or objective that is within reach of being secured through effort.
Analysis
win (old english winnan, meaning "to labor, toil, strive, fight") + able (latin -abilis, a suffix forming adjectives meaning "capable of, fit for, tending to")