Origin: Latin suffix -able
Receivable has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
A debt owed, usually to a business, from the perspective of that business
"The accounting department updated the ledger to reflect the new accounts receivable balance after the client agreed to pay their outstanding invoice."
In plain English: A receivable is money that someone owes you for goods or services they have already received but haven't paid for yet.
"The company sent out invoices for all money they expect to receive soon, which are now listed on their receivables report."
capable of being received, especially of a debt, from the perspective of the creditor.
"The company recorded the outstanding payment as an account receivable to track money owed by its customers."
In plain English: Receivable describes money that someone owes you and will pay to you later.
"The company's receivable accounts increased after many customers paid their invoices late."
Usage: Use "receivable" as an adjective before nouns like "account" or "amount," but avoid using it predicatively after verbs such as "is." In accounting contexts, distinguish this term from "collectible," which emphasizes the likelihood of payment rather than the creditor's right to claim funds.
The word receivable comes from Middle English receyvable, which was formed by adding the suffix -able to the verb receive. It entered modern usage with the meaning of something that can be received or collected.