incognita
Americanadjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of incognita
1660–70; < Italian; feminine of incognito
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 search for terra incognita can explain the explosion, in the 20th century, of science fiction and magical realism.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025
This is really quite intriguing as we do not know much about these parts of the genome; our work shows there is benefit in exploring further this genetic terra incognita.'
From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2024
Let them believe that the Puget Sound region is terra incognita and perhaps they won’t come out here.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 5, 2024
Department of Agriculture to try selectivin against a notorious and nefarious nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, which infects many kinds of crops.
From Science Magazine • May 25, 2023
The earth floats in space; one quarter of the sphere is habitable, but half of it is covered by water, and the remaining quarter represents terra or aqua incognita.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
