inestimable
Americanadjective
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incapable of being estimated or assessed.
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too large or great to be estimated or appreciated.
The flood caused inestimable damage.
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of incalculable value; valuable beyond measure; priceless.
jewels of inestimable worth.
adjective
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not able to be estimated; immeasurable
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of immeasurable value
Other Word Forms
- inestimability noun
- inestimableness noun
- inestimably adverb
Etymology
Origin of inestimable
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Latin word inaestimābilis. See in- 3, estimable
Explanation
If something is so big you can’t even guess at its size, you’d call it inestimable. It can describe physical size (the inestimable universe) or a degree of something (your inestimable handsomeness with that new haircut). The prefix in- means “not,” and estimable has the same root as the word estimate, which means "to take an educated guess." Sometimes a thing is so great that you cannot even guess. A tsunami causes inestimable destruction. You’d need to travel inestimable miles to reach the edge of the universe. The love you have for your pet raccoon is inestimable, but the number of times she gets into your trash every week is quite estimable.
Vocabulary lists containing inestimable
"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" by Patrick Henry (1775)
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The Launch of Sputnik 1
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
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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.
He added that he praised those who "guard the inestimable historical and artistic value of the Colosseum with dedication, care and sacrifice".
From BBC • Jul. 6, 2023
The body is similarly inestimable, and Callaway said there’s a never-ending quest to figure out all the variables trainers can control.
From Washington Post • Apr. 26, 2023
With his inestimable guidance, I plunged into Fed history during the Volcker era.
From New York Times • Sep. 22, 2022
God is the author of life, and every human life from conception to death has inestimable worth.
From Slate • Jun. 24, 2022
“I have given the country back a treasure of inestimable worth, and instead of being thankful, they throw me in jail. It’s the height of ingratitude.”
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
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.
