adj
docile
DOH-syl
adj
1
Easy to control, teach, or manage; gentle and compliant.
"The old dog was docile and let the kids climb all over it."
"Years of training made the horse calm and docile."
How to Use Docile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCalm, obedient, and easy to handle — often used of animals or compliant people.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "docket" or "dock" — unrelated except for the shared spelling pattern.
Common pairings
a docile animal
docile temperament
remain docile
Word Forms
more docile comparative, most docile superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “docile”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old dog was _____ and let the kids climb all over it.
Etymology
From Latin docilis, "easily taught," from docere, "to teach" — the same root as "doctor" and "doctrine."