relocatable: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Technical
Quick answer
What does “relocatable” mean?
Capable of being moved from one place to another.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Capable of being moved from one place to another.
1. (Computing) A program designed to be loaded into different memory addresses. 2. (Manufacturing) A building or structure designed to be disassembled and reassembled elsewhere. 3. A workforce or employee willing/able to move for work.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and frequency are similar. The computing sense is universally technical. The 'mobile home' sense might more often use 'portable' in casual UK speech.
Connotations
In business, implies flexibility and modern, agile operations. In housing/construction, can imply temporary, lower-cost, or less permanent solutions.
Frequency
More frequent in technical, HR, and industrial contexts than in everyday conversation in both variants.
Grammar
How to Use “relocatable” in a Sentence
be + relocatablemake + object + relocatabledesign + object + to be relocatableVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “relocatable” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council decided to relocate the library.
- Staff were relocated to the new headquarters in Reading.
American English
- The company will relocate its main factory.
- We had to relocate for my spouse's job in Texas.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in HR for employees willing to move, and in operations for temporary facilities. 'We offer a premium to relocatable staff.'
Academic
Used in computer science (relocatable code), urban studies, and logistics. 'The study analysed relocatable housing in disaster zones.'
Everyday
Mostly for temporary buildings or moving house/jobs. 'The school installed relocatable classrooms for the expansion.'
Technical
Specific computing term for code; engineering term for structures. 'The linker resolves addresses for the relocatable binary.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “relocatable”
- Using 'relocatable' for people as a noun (e.g., 'He is a relocatable') – it's an adjective ('He is relocatable'). Confusing with 'relocated' (already moved).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar, but 'relocatable' often implies a larger, more complex, or semi-permanent item designed to be moved (e.g., a classroom, an office), while 'portable' suggests easier, more frequent movement (e.g., a radio, a charger).
Yes, particularly in business/HR contexts. It means the person is willing and able to move to a different geographical location for their job.
In computing, it is machine code or program code that can be loaded into and executed from different areas of a computer's memory, with addresses adjusted during loading.
The related noun is 'relocatability'. The act is 'relocation'. The person/thing that relocates is a 'relocator'.
Capable of being moved from one place to another.
Relocatable is usually formal/technical in register.
Relocatable: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːləʊˈkeɪtəb(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriːˈloʊˌkeɪdəb(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to 'relocatable']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE-LOCATE-ABLE. If something is 'able' to be 're-located', it's relocatable.
Conceptual Metaphor
FLEXIBILITY IS MOBILITY; TEMPORARY IS LIGHT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'relocatable' a specific technical term?