indecipherable
Americanadjective
-
not decipherable; illegible.
-
not understandable; incomprehensible.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of indecipherable
First recorded in 1795–1805; in- 3 + decipherable ( def. )
Explanation
Something that's indecipherable can't be understood. When you can't read your dad's messy handwriting, you can describe it as indecipherable. You'll find Italian poetry to be indecipherable if you don't speak Italian, and you may find some experimental films indecipherable even if they're in English. If you can't figure out the meaning of something, it's indecipherable. At the heart of this adjective is cipher, which means "code" or "secret way of writing." When you decipher something, you crack the code — but if it's indecipherable, the meaning remains a secret.
Vocabulary lists containing indecipherable
Hello, Universe
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
They Both Die at the End
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Stand Up, Yumi Chung!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
But he is best known for his inimitable, Surrealist pictures featuring skeletal, architectonic figures—merging humans, animals, foliage, totems and signs—which, though indecipherable, are instantly recognizable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 31, 2026
The defining complaint about the sacked Dutchman was that after two-and-a-bit seasons the football was still formless and the tactical direction indecipherable.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2024
Fox News aired several minutes of blurry footage of Mr. Trump meeting with a Border Patrol agent in Eagle Pass, Texas, though the audio was often indecipherable.
From New York Times ● Feb. 29, 2024
Smith's team also argued that the requests Trump's lawyers made were nearly indecipherable because of how vague and broad they were.
From Salon ● Feb. 5, 2024
They sat in an uneasy silence, the tinkle of silverware and the indecipherable hubbub from the surrounding tables the only sounds.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
