WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
fac•ile /ˈfæsɪl/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- quick in comprehension or action:a facile mind in learning languages.
- superficial;
shallow:facile answers to hard questions. - fluent;
effortless:a facile writing style.
fac•ile
(fas′il or, esp. Brit., -īl),USA pronunciation adj.
fac′ile•ly, adv.
fac′ile•ness, n.
- moving, acting, working, proceeding, etc., with ease, sometimes with superficiality:facile fingers; a facile mind.
- easily done, performed, used, etc.:a facile victory; a facile method.
- easy or unconstrained, as manners or persons.
- affable, agreeable, or complaisant;
easily influenced:a facile temperament; facile people.
- Latin facilis that can be done, easy, equivalent. to fac(ere) to do, make + -ilis -ile
- 1475–85
fac′ile•ness, n.
- 1. smooth, flowing, fluent; glib. 2. superficial. 3. bland, suave; urbane.