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

Other Word Forms

• indelibly adverb
• indelibility noun
• indelibleness noun

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

Failure would be an indelible blot on his record and vastly complicate life for his successors.

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“The Land of Sweet Forever” reinforces Lee’s indelible voice, contributing a rewarding addition and resource to the slim canon of her literary legacy.

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Turning 55 next month, Hawke shares with Hart an effusive passion for indelible work but also, perhaps, a nagging anxiety about the end of his creative usefulness.

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When I first read those sketches, they struck me as lovely but pointless, yet they have lingered with me over the years, like an indelible scent or flavor.

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A photograph of him at age 3, posing on the Olympic Stadium field with his dad and dressed in a full Expos uniform, has remained an indelible image that proved prophetic.

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Related Words

• enduring 
• lasting 
• memorable 
• stirring 
• unforgettable