indelible
Americanadjective
-
making marks that cannot be erased, removed, or washed out.
indelible ink.
-
impossible to eliminate, forget, or change.
the indelible memories of war;
the indelible influence of a great teacher.
adjective
-
incapable of being erased or obliterated
-
making indelible marks
indelible ink
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of indelible
First recorded in 1520–30; from Medieval Latin indēlibilis; replacing indeleble, from Latin indēlēbilis “indestructible”; see in- 3, dele, -ble
Explanation
If something is indelible, you better hope you never regret it, like the indelible tattoo of the name of your favorite band or the indelible first impression it might give people you meet years from now, especially if your taste in music changes. The adjective indelible describes something that can't be erased or removed, like marks made by an indelible marker, or an indelible moment you will never forget, like your first day of kindergarten or the first time you visit a new, exotic place. It comes from the Latin word indelebilis, meaning "not able to be destroyed."
Vocabulary lists containing indelible
Just Mercy
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Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
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A Long Way Gone
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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.
Stepmother sounds even worse thanks to the indelible harridans in “Cinderella” and “Snow White.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
"This is an indelible stain on the country of Norway" he said, adding "we will not forget".
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
Known for creating an indelible VMAs moment when she kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera onstage during a 2003 medley, Madonna also opened the show with her first performance at the event since that night.
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
Among his most indelible performances was “The Way You Look Tonight.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Back at the house, when the youngest tried to clean his forehead, he discovered that the mark was indelible and so were those of his brothers.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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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.
