inconclusive
Americanadjective
-
not conclusive; not resolving fully all doubts or questions.
inconclusive evidence.
-
without final results or outcome.
inconclusive experiments.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inconclusive
First recorded in 1680–90; in- 3 + conclusive
Explanation
If something's inconclusive, that means it doesn't lead to a conclusion or a resolution. Inconclusive often describes scientific results. If your data about a flu outbreak is inconclusive, then your results don't prove anything. A good way to remember the meaning of inconclusive is to look at the root word conclusive, which means "definitive, decisive, and convincing." When you add in- — which means "not" — to the front of conclusive, you get a word that means "not definitive." When something's inconclusive, it doesn't resolve your questions and leaves room for debate. If you're a detective, the last thing you want to hear is that your evidence is inconclusive.
Vocabulary lists containing inconclusive
Case Closed: Clud, Clus
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Vocabulary from "Stop Expecting Games to Build Empathy" by Julie Muncy
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Double Helix
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Establishing direct links between semiconductor work and certain cancers can be contentious, with research inconclusive.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
For the time being, I think we're going to carry on with a messy, inconclusive situation that is bad for everyone.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
There are very few studies done on biotherapies, and what is out there is primarily inconclusive or acknowledging the results as too complex to quantify.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Results were either mixed or inconclusive, and there was limited strong evidence showing that collagen significantly improves metabolic health, gum disease, or cosmetic outcomes in dentistry.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 5, 2026
The vet had called with the additional test results: inconclusive.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
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.
