indiscernible

American  

[in-di-sur-nuh-buhl, -zur-] / ˌɪn dɪˈsɜr nə bəl, -ˈzɜr- /

adjective

1. not discernible; that cannot be seen or perceived clearly; imperceptible.

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indiscernible British  

/ ˌɪndɪˈsɜːnəbəl /

adjective

1. incapable of being discerned

2. scarcely discernible or perceptible

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Other Word Forms

• indiscernibility noun
• indiscernibleness noun
• indiscernibly adverb

Etymology

Origin of indiscernible

First recorded in 1625–35; in- ³ + discernible

Explanation

Indiscernible things can't be seen or sensed clearly. A black cat is indiscernible in the dark, and the tiny amount of gray in your hair might also be indiscernible. Flavors are indiscernible if you can't taste them, and objects are indiscernible if you can't see them. Your next door neighbor's piano playing is also indiscernible if he plays quietly, with the windows shut so you can't hear. The adjective indiscernible adds the "not" or "opposite of" prefix in- to discernible, from its Latin root discernere, "to set apart," or "to distinguish."

Example Sentences

At close distances, the two sounds are almost indiscernible to the human ear.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2025

The eggs failed to hatch and the contents of six of them were indiscernible.

From Scientific American • Jun. 9, 2023

“This looks so good,” the 33-year-old coos, flashing a grin indiscernible from her more cloying online characters.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2023

Today’s scam ads are often indiscernible from legitimate listings, and can appear on reputable job sites like LinkedIn and Indeed, as well as in your inbox as phishing attacks.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 24, 2023

In various unrevealed capacities he had come in contact with such people but always with indiscernible barbed wire between.

From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald