inexplicable

American  

[in-ek-spli-kuh-buhl, in-ik-splik-uh-buhl] / ɪnˈɛk splɪ kə bəl, ˌɪn ɪkˈsplɪk ə bəl /

adjective

1. not explicable; incapable of being accounted for or explained.

   Synonyms:

   mysterious, unaccountable

---

inexplicable British  

/ ɪnˈɛksplɪkəbəl, ˌɪnɪkˈsplɪkəbəl /

adjective

1. not capable of explanation; unexplainable

---

Other Word Forms

• inexplicability noun
• inexplicableness noun
• inexplicably adverb

Etymology

Origin of inexplicable

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Latin word inexplicābilis. See in- ³, explicable

Example Sentences

But Scotland midfielder McGinn scored his second goal of the game from distance after a brain freeze from Forest goalkeeper John Victor, who inexplicably charged out of his area.

From Barron's

For a confused college football fan trying to explain the inexplicable, there is a common thread running through all of the weekend’s upsets: the transfer portal.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Crimson Tide had just been rolled over by a Midwestern basketball school that has inexplicably morphed into the best college football team in the country.

From The Wall Street Journal

This spectacularly important museum, inexplicably omitted from the Tourist Office map, is only a short walk from the famed Jewish quarter.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the preceding weeks, he had been inexplicably losing weight, had struggled with coordination, and felt near-constant fatigue.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• baffling
• incomprehensible
• mysterious
• mystifying
• odd
• peculiar
• puzzling
• strange
• unaccountable
• unfathomable