unpredictable

[uhn-pri-dik-tuh-buhl]

adjective

1. not predictable; not to be foreseen or foretold.

   an unpredictable occurrence.

   Synonyms: uncertain, variable, fitful, erratic

noun

1. something that is unpredictable.

   the unpredictables of life.

unpredictable

/ ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəbəl /

adjective

1. not capable of being predicted; changeable

Other Word Forms

• unpredictability noun
• unpredictableness noun
• unpredictably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of unpredictable¹

First recorded in 1855–60; un- ¹ + predictable

Example Sentences

Chief executive George Weston said though he was "confident" for 2026, it depended on the "consumer environment" which was was "particularly unpredictable at the moment".

Read more on BBC

The inspectors say the prison regime was curtailed, inconsistent and unpredictable, with prisoners regularly locked up until late in the morning and from 16:00, with no evening activities.

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They are seeking something else: order, symbolism, and a sense of calm in an increasingly unpredictable environment.

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Carlyle executives said the light quarter for exits stemmed from the unpredictable timing of when transactions close, not any underlying difficulty in selling assets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But it does mean your information, writing or thinking may appear in tiny, unpredictable and likely undetectable ways.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• erratic 
• fickle 
• uncertain 
• unreliable 
• unstable