imperceptible
Americanadjective
-
very slight, gradual, or subtle.
the imperceptible slope of the road.
-
not perceptible; not perceived by or affecting the senses.
- Synonyms:
- undetectable, unperceivable, hidden
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of imperceptible
From the Medieval Latin word imperceptibilis, dating back to 1520–30. See im- 2, perceptible
Explanation
If it's imperceptible, it's impossible to perceive with any of the senses. The world might be spinning, but it's imperceptible from your couch. Within the word imperceptible you see the word percept, which means "the object of your perception." Like impossible, the im in imperceptible means it cannot be perceived. Imperceptible is rarely used in the absolute sense of the word — it is usually paired with almost. Horton hears the Who but the tiny sounds of the Whos were almost imperceptible to everyone else.
Vocabulary lists containing imperceptible
The Crucible
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The Old Man and the Sea
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A Wrinkle in Time
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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.
Methane gas may be imperceptible, but the garbage that produces it is not -- Tiltil's 17,000 inhabitants have grown increasingly concerned about the health impact of such drastic pollution.
From Barron's • May 13, 2026
But the opposite, reflective face bears an image incised in finely engraved lines that under normal conditions is virtually imperceptible to the naked eye.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025
"Traditionally, the intense heat of firing destroys any biological residue. However, our technique has been able to reveal fingerprint ridges that would otherwise remain imperceptible."
From Science Daily • Nov. 2, 2025
The hum of the electric motor is imperceptible, and it is only at speed that the sound of the rolling wheels on the road breaks through.
From BBC • Sep. 3, 2025
It is tempting to think of this as some kind of giant continent-sized car crash, but of course it happened with imperceptible slowness.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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.
