inexplicable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inexplicable
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Latin word inexplicābilis. See in- 3, explicable
Explanation
Something inexplicable can't be explained. It doesn't make sense. You don't want to come to the beach on the most beautiful day of the year? That's inexplicable! Inexplicable is made up of the prefix in, which means "not," and explicable, which comes from the Latin explicabilis, meaning "unfolded, unraveled." Do you see the double negative? If something is not unfolded, it's folded up and tangled — like something that doesn't make sense. Your school's decision to call a snow day is inexplicable, if there's barely a layer of snow on the ground.
Vocabulary lists containing inexplicable
A Christmas Carol
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List 5
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The Scarlet Letter
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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.
Living without books is, for some, equally inexplicable.
From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026
“It’s sort of inexplicable to me,” Texas Sen. John Cornyn, an ousted incumbent who’s suddenly a lot more willing to say what’s on his mind, told reporters.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
That’s where, in a quarterfinal match against England at the 1986 World Cup, Maradona pulled off two of the most inexplicable moments in soccer history.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026
They have stumbled their way through the last nine years with cronyism, poor drafting, inexplicable trades and player contracts that are absolutely baffling.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026
If I found the twins so fascinating, I think it was because there was something a tiny bit inexplicable about them, something I was often on the verge of grasping but never quite did.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
