invisible

[in-viz-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. not visible; not perceptible by the eye.

   invisible fluid.

2. withdrawn from or out of sight; hidden.

   an invisible seam.

   Synonyms: obscure, veiled

3. not perceptible or discernible by the mind.

   invisible differences.

4. not ordinarily found in financial statements or reflected in statistics or a listing.

   Goodwill is an invisible asset to a business.

5. concealed from public knowledge.

noun

1. an invisible thing or being.

2. the invisible, the unseen or spiritual world.

invisible

/ ɪnˈvɪzəbəl /

adjective

1. not visible; not able to be perceived by the eye

   invisible rays

2. concealed from sight; hidden

3. not easily seen or noticed

   invisible mending

4. kept hidden from public view; secret; clandestine

5. economics of or relating to services rather than goods in relation to the invisible balance

   invisible earnings

noun

1. economics an invisible item of trade; service

Other Word Forms

• invisibility noun
• invisibleness noun
• invisibly adverb
• quasi-invisible adjective
• quasi-invisibly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of invisible¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English word from Latin word invīsibilis. See in- ³, visible

Example Sentences

Then it hits me—a huge burst of invisible force, like a cloud of humidity.

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Now the memory of her was all but erased, as if it had been written in invisible ink.

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Luckily, the teacher was sympathetic; she even tried to cheer Penelope by showing her how to write invisible messages using milk for ink.

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Madame Ionesco’s warning came back to her like a voice from some invisible dimension.

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The invisible social line—which, if crossed, might make her think I was sassy—was narrow and was applied arbitrarily.

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Related Words

• imperceptible 
• microscopic 
• unseen