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.
"Health personnel have fled, health facilities have been destroyed or become inaccessible, so Tine is the first accessible hospital for victims from the other side of the border," he added.
From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026
Overnight Saturday and into Sunday, firefighters removed portions of the wall to improve access and to allow firefighters to advance into areas that were otherwise inaccessible.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 21, 2026
Iran has an estimated $100 billion in assets rendered inaccessible by U.S. sanctions, mainly revenue from past oil sales and reserves.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026
The BBC has heard that inaccessible courts have led to a number of issues for disabled people, including jurors feeling vulnerable, and lawyers having to join cases remotely despite being metres from the courtroom.
From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026
The sky tumbled overhead, unspooling into a reflection of fireworks on water and rising white buildings that appeared as distant and inaccessible as the medieval Neamt Citadel.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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.
