indelible

[ in-del-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. making marks that cannot be erased, removed, or washed out:

   indelible ink.

2. impossible to eliminate, forget, or change:

   the indelible memories of war;

   the indelible influence of a great teacher.

indelible

/ ɪnˈdɛlɪbəl /

adjective

1. incapable of being erased or obliterated
2. making indelible marks

   indelible ink

Derived Forms

• inˌdeliˈbility, noun
• inˈdelibly, adverb

Other Words From

• in·deli·bili·ty in·deli·ble·ness noun
• in·deli·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of indelible¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Medieval Latin indēlibilis; replacing indeleble, from Latin indēlēbilis “indestructible”; in- ³, dele, -ble

Word History and Origins

Origin of indelible¹

C16: from Latin indēlēbilis indestructible, from in- ¹+ delēre to destroy

Example Sentences

That’s going to make sure we remain indelible in our culture and ensuring our survival.

From Washington Blade

To be able to gift these indelible moments to someone I loved seemed like the best way to thank my parents for instilling a reverence for them in me in the first place.

From Outside Online

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi, titled Spirited Away in English, would leave an indelible mark on animation in the 21st century.

From Time

She was a courageous fighter for equality at a time when it made an indelible difference then and now.

From Washington Blade

She left an indelible mark on our organization and helped make it something that could last more than 16 years later.

From Voice of San Diego

Strandf could photograph anything from a blind woman to a picket fence and make the image indelible.

From The Daily Beast

That the song has become so indelible is likely owed to the fact that we can all sort of relate.

From The Daily Beast

Haskins will perennially be attached to the indelible Saved By the Bell principal.

From The Daily Beast

It is an indelible snapshot burned into our brains of mortality and sports at their highest level.

From The Daily Beast

Her combination of skill and public persona left an indelible mark on the fashion world.

From The Daily Beast

The old smart revived; or rather, the old indelible impressions of it left on nerve and brain.

From Project Gutenberg

An indelible ink pencil (violet) may, in most cases, be used in place of the solution.

From Project Gutenberg

The tracing is done by means of a special form of style giving indelible curves through the medium of colored glycerine.

From Project Gutenberg

These men left an indelible mark upon the English in India during their time, and did much to prepare the way of the missionary.

From Project Gutenberg

There is no name for that elusive, eloquent, yet indelible sign life sets upon the faces of the lost.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• enduring
• lasting
• memorable
• stirring
• unforgettable