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.
With their high concentrations of indigestible oils and waxes, these fish are not suitable for human consumption.
From National Geographic • Feb. 13, 2024
Fiber is used as an umbrella term for indigestible plant polysaccharides, so there are many different types with varying fermentability, solubility and viscosity in the gut.
From Salon • Jan. 22, 2024
These indigestible dietary fibres are found in plant-derived foods such as onions, leeks, artichokes, wheat, bananas, and in high concentrations in chicory root.
From Science Daily • Oct. 10, 2023
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
They absorb the nourishment and cast out the indigestible parts in a tidy pellet.
From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
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.
