demountable

demountable — adjective

  • demountablepositive
  • more demountablecomparative
  • most demountablesuperlative

1. describes a part or object that is fixed in position with fasteners (such as scr

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes a part or object that is fixed in position with fasteners (such as screws or clips) and can be taken off or separated from the structure it belongs to without damaging it.

Example

The shelves have demountable brackets that can be easily repositioned.

collocation: demountable brackets / demountable panels

Trang removed the demountable panels from the office wall before painting started.

Common collocations
  • demountable bracket
  • demountable panel
  • demountable hook
  • demountable shelf
  • demountable rack
  • demountable wall
Synonyms
  • detachable

    more general; applies to anything that can be separated, including items held by magnets or friction

  • removable

    broader; includes items that lift or slide off without tools

  • separable

    formal; focuses on the possibility of separation rather than the method

Antonyms
  • fixed

    cannot be moved or taken off

  • permanent

    intended to stay in place indefinitely

  • non-removable

    technical term for parts designed never to be taken off

Grammar Patterns

demountable + noun

Usage Note

Typically used of parts held in place by mechanical fasteners (screws, bolts, clips). Distinguish from 'removable', which can also describe items that lift off without tools or fasteners.

Common Mistakes

❖ 'This demountable chair folds flat for storage.' ✅ 'This demountable chair can be taken apart into three pieces for storage.' — 'demountable' means you disassemble using fasteners, not simply fold the item.

2. built using separate parts that can be taken apart and put back together again w

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

built using separate parts that can be taken apart and put back together again without breaking or damaging them, allowing the item to be moved or stored flat.

Example

The flat-pack furniture uses demountable joints that can be unscrewed and reassembled.

collocation: demountable joints / demountable structure

Daichi assembled a demountable garden shed that arrived in pieces on a truck.

Common collocations
  • demountable joint
  • demountable structure
  • demountable shed
  • demountable cabinet
  • demountable stage
  • demountable building
Synonyms
  • modular

    wider term; focuses on standardised units that can be combined in different ways, not necessarily taken apart

  • knock-down

    informal; specifically describes furniture sold in pieces for home assembly

  • prefabricated

    broader; refers to sections built in a factory and assembled on site, not necessarily designed for repeated disassembly

Antonyms
  • permanent

    built to stay in place for the long term

  • fixed

    joined or attached so that it cannot be taken apart

  • one-piece

    made from a single continuous part, not designed for disassembly

Grammar Patterns

demountable + noun

be + demountable

Usage Note

Common in product descriptions for furniture, exhibition stands, and temporary structures. Often associated with 'flat-pack' or 'knock-down' furniture. Subject is typically a man-made object designed for repeated assembly cycles.

Common Mistakes

❖ 'The demountable sofa unfolds into a bed.' ✅ 'The demountable sofa can be separated into its seat, back, and arm sections for moving.' — 'demountable' involves disassembly into parts, not unfolding or converting.

demountable — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

All four words describe objects that arrive in parts and are assembled on site, but they differ in scope and design intent. 'Demountable' emphasises that the item is specifically designed for repeated disassembly and reassembly without damage; a demountable shed can be taken down and moved every few years. 'Modular' focuses on standardised units that connect to form larger systems; modular furniture uses fixed-size components that click together, but the units themselves may not be designed for regular disassembly. 'Knock-down' (often abbreviated KD) is an informal retail term for furniture sold in pieces for one-time home assembly; the joints are usually cam-lock or dowel-and-screw, which weaken if repeatedly taken apart. 'Prefabricated' (prefab) is the broadest term, covering any building or section built in a factory and assembled on site; a prefab concrete wall panel is lifted into place by crane and never intended to be moved again. In practice, a product labelled 'demountable' should survive many assembly cycles, while 'knock-down' furniture may crack after three rebuilds.

demountable ↗modular ↗knock-downprefabricated ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • flat-pack furniture
  • knock-down design
  • temporary structure
  • emergency housing

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed from the verb 'demount' (to remove from a mounting or support) which itself comes from de- (meaning removal or reversal) + mount (from Old French 'monter', to go up or fix in position) + the suffix -able (indicating capability). The word entered English in the mid-19th century, originally used for machinery parts and later extended to furniture and buildings designed for disassembly.