What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
fungible
Example
Gold is a fungible commodity because one ounce of gold is worth the same as any other ounce of gold. [fungible: adjective]
Example
The company's shares are fungible and can be easily traded on the stock market. [fungible: adjective]
substitutable
Example
If you don't have any butter, you can use margarine as a substitutable ingredient in the recipe. [substitutable: adjective]
Example
The two brands of laundry detergent are substitutable because they have similar ingredients and perform the same function. [substitutable: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Substitutable is more commonly used than fungible in everyday language. Substitutable is a broader term that can be applied to a wider range of contexts, while fungible is a more specific term used mainly in financial contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between fungible and substitutable?
Both fungible and substitutable are formal terms used mainly in technical or specialized contexts, such as finance, economics, or law.
