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
- imperceptibility noun
- imperceptibleness noun
- imperceptibly adverb
Etymology
Origin of imperceptible
From the Medieval Latin word imperceptibilis, dating back to 1520–30. See im- 2, perceptible
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.
The wires are nearly imperceptible, and extra heating elements around the edges ensure most of the mattress surface is heated—something many heated blankets don’t always achieve.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026
"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
The weirdly urgent task lies in asking ourselves whether we have become unwitting accomplices in the imperceptible attempts to make some people unseeable, and why we might be willing to accept that.
From Slate • May 21, 2025
Jake catches my eye and gives me an almost imperceptible shake of the head.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
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.
