indigestible
Americanadjective
adjective
-
incapable of being digested or difficult to digest
-
difficult to understand or absorb mentally
an indigestible book
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of indigestible
From the Late Latin word indīgestibilis, dating back to 1520–30. See in- 3, digestible
Explanation
If you've ever eaten something that your body couldn't break down and absorb, it was indigestible. Certain edible but indigestible substances are essential for maintaining a healthy digestive system. Many healthy plant foods are full of indigestible matter called dietary fiber. Our bodies lack the enzymes needed to fully break it down. This indigestible bulk helps move food through the digestive system and supports the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. The term now also figuratively describes information or concepts that are very difficult, or impossible, to understand or "absorb" mentally — such as the dense jargon in legal documents.
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.
This Halloween we’re all Charlie Brown — and the rocks we’ve been served are indigestible.
From Salon • Oct. 31, 2025
The indigestible remainder of the food and the capsule then passed on to the large intestine, where the food was fermented by the gut bacteria.
From Science Daily • Dec. 2, 2024
With their high concentrations of indigestible oils and waxes, these fish are not suitable for human consumption.
From National Geographic • Feb. 13, 2024
At 2 hours and 30 minutes, the play can sometimes seem indulgent; parts of the story feel undigested and perhaps indigestible.
From New York Times • Jun. 22, 2022
Much of Greek culture had been assimilated by the Romans, but they had found the concept of discovery indigestible, and it is unlikely that Vergil, trained to think like a Roman, would have responded differently.
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.
