opposable
adjective
op·pos·able ə-ˈpō-zə-bəl 
1
: capable of being opposed or resisted
2
: capable of being placed against one or more of the remaining digits of a hand or foot
the opposable human thumb
opposability
ə-ˌpō-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun 
Example Sentences
Humans have an opposable thumb.
Recent Examples on the Web The consultants also addressed how a character might stand in frame so their ASL is seen, and in the case of the chimps, sign hanging upside down from a branch or even with their feet, which have opposable big toes. 
Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2022 He was born without opposable thumbs, or even hands, and has trouble climbing ladders as a result. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 20 Apr. 2016 The indri is a lemur, a primate with opposable thumbs; a short tail; and round, tufted, teddy-bear-like ears. Sara Harrison, Wired, 21 Dec. 2021 The resident at the (OFSDS) in Mount Juliet, Tenn., has arthritis, a heart ailment and no opposable thumbs, a consequence of her age and species. Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2021 Being one inch tall also alters the difficulty of almost any in-game challenge (compounded if characters lack opposable thumbs). Pearse Anderson, Wired, 9 Sep. 2021 The creator of the post, Mike Roman, claims the bear activated the ski-lift and boarded a chair on its own — a remarkable feat for an animal without opposable thumbs. Bayliss Wagner, USA TODAY, 28 June 2021 All pets really need is your care and the occasional use of your opposable thumbs. Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, 6 May 2021 For example, Padian tells Gizmodo that otters and raccoons have opposable thumbs but aren’t arboreal. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2021 See More
Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2022 He was born without opposable thumbs, or even hands, and has trouble climbing ladders as a result. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 20 Apr. 2016 The indri is a lemur, a primate with opposable thumbs; a short tail; and round, tufted, teddy-bear-like ears. Sara Harrison, Wired, 21 Dec. 2021 The resident at the (OFSDS) in Mount Juliet, Tenn., has arthritis, a heart ailment and no opposable thumbs, a consequence of her age and species. Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2021 Being one inch tall also alters the difficulty of almost any in-game challenge (compounded if characters lack opposable thumbs). Pearse Anderson, Wired, 9 Sep. 2021 The creator of the post, Mike Roman, claims the bear activated the ski-lift and boarded a chair on its own — a remarkable feat for an animal without opposable thumbs. Bayliss Wagner, USA TODAY, 28 June 2021 All pets really need is your care and the occasional use of your opposable thumbs. Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, 6 May 2021 For example, Padian tells Gizmodo that otters and raccoons have opposable thumbs but aren’t arboreal. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
oppose + -able
First Known Use
circa 1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
opposable
adjective
op·pos·able ə-ˈpō-zə-bəl
: capable of being placed against one or more of the remaining digits of a hand or foot
an opposable thumb