[ duhk-tl, -til ]
/ ˈdʌk tl, -tɪl /


capable of being hammered out thin, as certain metals; malleable.
capable of being drawn out into wire or threads, as gold.
able to undergo change of form without breaking.
capable of being molded or shaped; plastic.

Origin of ductile

1300–50; Middle English < Latin ductilis, equivalent to duct(us) (past participle of dūcere to draw along) + -ilis -ile



Examples from the Web for ductile

British Dictionary definitions for ductile

/ (ˈdʌktaɪl) /


(of a metal, such as gold or copper) able to be drawn out into wire
able to be moulded; pliant; plastic
easily led or influenced; tractable

Derived forms of ductile

ductilely, adverbductility (dʌkˈtɪlɪtɪ) or ductileness, noun

Word Origin for ductile

C14: from Old French, from Latin ductilis, from dūcere to lead

Medicine definitions for ductile

[ dŭktəl, -tīl′ ]


Easily molded or shaped.

Science definitions for ductile

[ dŭktəl ]

Easily stretched without breaking or lowering in material strength. Gold is relatively ductile at room temperature, and most metals become more ductile with increasing temperature. Compare brittle malleable.
Relating to rock or other materials that are capable of withstanding a certain amount of force by changing form before fracturing or breaking.