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unfalsifiable

[ uhn-fawl-suh-fahy-uh-buhl ] [ ʌnˌfɔl səˈfaɪ ə bəl ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

not able to be proven false, and therefore not scientific.

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Why Dictionary.com chose unfalsifiable

More about unfalsifiable

  • Unfalsifiable was first recorded in 1835–45.
  • Unfalsifiable is formed from the prefix un, which means “not,” and the word falsifiable.
  • Falsifiable was first recorded in the early 17th century and ultimately comes from the Late Latin verb falsificāre, “to make false.”

EXAMPLES OF UNFALSIFIABLE

  • The existence of parallel universes remains an intriguing but ultimately unfalsifiable theory within the domain of theoretical physics.
  • Pseudoscience often relies on claims that are vague and unfalsifiable, making it difficult to subject them to rigorous empirical scrutiny.
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Word of the day

smaze

[ smeyz ] [ smeɪz ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a mixture of haze and smoke.

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Why Dictionary.com chose smaze

More about smaze

  • Smaze was first recorded around 1950–55.
  • Smaze is a portmanteau, a combination, of the words smoke and haze.
  • Smoke was first recorded before 1000 and is from an Old English word, smoca.
  • Haze was first recorded in 1700–10 and comes perhaps from a variant of the Old English word haswa, “ashen, dusky.”

EXAMPLES OF SMAZE

  • The dense smaze hanging over the city obscured the view of the skyline.
  • The combination of a morning fog and chimney smoke created an eerie smaze in the countryside.
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Word of the day

sanguivorous

[ sang-gwiv-er-uhs ] [ sæŋˈgwɪv ər əs ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

feeding on blood, as a bat or insect.

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Why Dictionary.com chose sanguivorous

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More about sanguivorous

  • Sanguivorous was first recorded in 1835–45.
  • Sanguivorous is a combination of the Latin root sangui-, meaning “blood,” and -vorous, meaning “eating or gaining sustenance from.”
  • Other similar adjectives include: omnivorous, carnivorous, herbivorouspiscivorous, and frugivorous.

EXAMPLES OF SANGUIVOROUS

  • Vampire legends often depict mythical creatures that are both immortal and sanguivorous, requiring human blood to sustain themselves.
  • The surgeon skillfully removed a leech from the patient’s arm, a sanguivorous creature seeking a blood meal.
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