incontrovertible

American  

[in-kon-truh-vur-tuh-buhl, in-kon-] / ˌɪn kɒn trəˈvɜr tə bəl, ɪnˌkɒn- /

adjective

1. not controvertible; not open to question or dispute; indisputable.

   absolute and incontrovertible truth.

   Synonyms:

   unquestionable, undeniable, incontestable

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incontrovertible British  

/ ɪnˌkɒn-, ˌɪnkɒntrəˈvɜːtəbəl /

adjective

1. incapable of being contradicted or disputed; undeniable

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Other Word Forms

• incontrovertibility noun
• incontrovertibleness noun
• incontrovertibly adverb

Etymology

Origin of incontrovertible

First recorded in 1640–50; in- ³ + controvertible ( def. )

Explanation

When something is incontrovertible, it is undeniably, absolutely, 100 percent, completely true. That rain is wet is an incontrovertible fact. If you look at incontrovertible, you see that -controver-, as in controversy, is hiding inside. Add in the prefix, and it's easy to see that incontrovertible means there is no controversy about something, or, in other words, it is unchangeable and true. Incontrovertible evidence or proof is what you are looking for if you suspect that someone is doing something wrong.

Example Sentences

Start with some incontrovertible rules to live by.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 9, 2026

And with this sentence - he thinks – has come more incontrovertible proof.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2025

For Nikki, who died Monday at 81, our future depends upon our willingness to learn from everyday Black folks’ refusal to accept status-quo cruelties as incontrovertible realities.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2024

His presence was proof of an incontrovertible fact about the festival, now in its second week: Cannes loves dogs.

From New York Times • May 21, 2024

Most liars are tripped up either because they forget what they have told or because the lie is suddenly faced with an incontrovertible truth.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck