inaccessible
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inaccessible
From the Late Latin word inaccessibilis, dating back to 1545–55. See in- 3, accessible
Explanation
Can't get to something you want? It must be inaccessible. If it were accessible, you wouldn't have any trouble finding it. This word makes a lot of sense when you think about the word access, which is the ability to get at, use, or have something. Inaccessible things are out of reach. There are a lot of ways this word is used. A building without a ramp is often called inaccessible because people who use wheelchairs can't get in. People can be inaccessible too. If your doctor has office hours only one hour a day every two months, she's really inaccessible.
Vocabulary lists containing inaccessible
"Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson
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The Bluest Eye
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Remote Learning: Synonyms for "Far"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Cruise-goers could view Inaccessible Island, an uninhabited site home to the breeding grounds for many species of rare birds.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Inaccessible roads and downed power lines in Oklahoma also led officials in the town of Claremore, near Tulsa, to announce on social media that the city was “shut down” due to the damage.
From Seattle Times • May 26, 2024
Inaccessible insurance can lead to catastrophic financial losses for people living in disaster-prone areas, the report warns.
From Scientific American • Oct. 25, 2023
Some 75% of bottles washed ashore on Inaccessible Island, in the South Atlantic, were found to be from Asia - with most made in China.
From BBC • Oct. 1, 2019
“And now, ladies,” he added, addressing them both collectively, “I must say farewell, hoping to have the pleasure of seeing you again on our return from Inaccessible Island, somewhere about two years hence.”
From Fritz and Eric The Brother Crusoes by Hutcheson, John C. (John Conroy)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
