unknowable

1 of 2

adjective

un·​know·​able ˌən-ˈnō-ə-bəl How to pronounce unknowable (audio)
Synonyms of unknowablenext
: not knowable
especially : lying beyond the limits of human experience or understanding
unknowability
ˌən-ˌnō-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce unknowable (audio)
noun

unknowability

2 of 2

noun

un·​knowability ¦ən+ How to pronounce unknowability (audio)
: the quality or state of being unknowable

Examples of unknowable in a Sentence

Adjective a God whose nature is unknown and unknowable
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Dark, ancient, kind of unknowable. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 18 June 2026 The answer isn’t unknowable, but the people with the most power to shape it have spent the better part of a decade arguing about whether the question is fair. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 June 2026 In so many of his films, Spielberg tries to control and redefine something that is, on some level, unknowable and petrifying. — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2026 How England will actually perform in a penalty shoot-out is still ultimately unknowable. — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unknowable

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unknowable was in the 15th century

Rhymes for unknowable

See All Rhymes for unknowable

Browse Nearby Words

unknowability
unknowable
unknowen
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unknowable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unknowable. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

unknowable

adjective
un·​know·​able ˌən-ˈnō-ə-bəl How to pronounce unknowable (audio)
ˈən-
: not knowable
some facts in the case may remain unknowable

More from Merriam-Webster on unknowable

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for unknowable

Nglish: Translation of unknowable for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All