a·ble-bod·ied

(ā′bəl-bŏd′ēd)

adj.

Not physically disabled; strong and healthy: "It required an immediate end to welfare for the able-bodied poor" (David A. Stockman).

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

able-bodied

adj

1. physically strong and healthy; robust

2. not having a physical disability

Usage: Preferred form: non-disabled

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

a′ble-bod′ied

adj.

having a strong, healthy body; physically fit.

[1615–25]

a′ble-bod′ied•ness, n.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.

able-bodied - having a strong healthy body; "an able seaman"; "every able-bodied young man served in the army"

able

fit - physically and mentally sound or healthy; "felt relaxed and fit after their holiday"; "keeps fit with diet and exercise"

able-bodied

adjective strong, firm, sound, fit, powerful, healthy, strapping, hardy, robust, vigorous, sturdy, hale, stout, staunch, hearty, lusty, right as rain (Brit. informal), tough, capable, sturdy, Herculean, fighting fit, sinewy, fit as a fiddle The gym can be used by both able-bodied and disabled people.
weak, tender, fragile, ailing, frail, feeble, debilitated, sickly

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

able-bodied

adjective

Full of vigor:

iron, lusty, red-blooded, robust, strapping, sturdy, vigorous, vital.

Translations

able-bodied

[ˈeɪblˈbɒdɪd]

A. ADJ → sano

B. CPD able-bodied seaman N → marinero m de primera, marinero m patentado

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

able-bodied

adj → (gesund und) kräftig; (Mil) → tauglich

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

able-bodied

[ˌeɪblˈbɒdɪd] adj → robusto/a, valido/a
able-bodied citizen → cittadino idoneo or abile (al servizio militare)

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

In the meantime, the hut had become thronged by the able-bodied officers and men of the two ships.

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Before me, one mature able-bodied labourer had done the day shift and another equally mature able-bodied labourer had done the night-shift.

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So seldom do they ever exert themselves, that when they do work they seem determined that so meritorious an action shall not escape the observation of those around if, for example, they have occasion to remove a stone to a little distance, which perhaps might be carried by two able-bodied men, a whole swarm gather about it, and, after a vast deal of palavering, lift it up among them, every one struggling to get hold of it, and bear it off yelling and panting as if accomplishing some mighty achievement.

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As he had foreseen, all the able-bodied men were down at the boat-landing working cargo.

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In obedience to this summons four hundred and eighteen able-bodied men assembled.

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Some were able-bodied, but inexpert; others were expert, but lazy; while a third class were expert and willing, but totally worn out, being broken-down veterans, incapable of toil.

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We are four able-bodied men in this household, so that we could take good care of ourselves, but I confess that I have had uneasy moments when I have thought of the Stapletons.

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Able-bodied, clean-minded women we want also--mothers and teachers.

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We were not a large tribe; afterwards, all our able-bodied men numbered one full regiment in Chaka's army, perhaps there were between two and three thousand of them, but they were brave.

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I've been looking for a good able-bodied bandit like you for years.

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Marija could do the work of an able-bodied man, when she was cheerful, but discouragement wore her out easily, and she would come home at night a pitiable object.

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Indeed, in Kukuanaland, as among the Germans, the Zulus, and the Masai, every able-bodied man is a soldier, so that the whole force of the nation is available for its wars, offensive or defensive.

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