incommensurable

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌɪnkəˈmɛnʃɚəbəl/ UK /ˌɪnkəˈmenʃərəbəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #485101

Meanings

1

adj
in mathematics, lacking a shared unit that measures each quantity exactly; having an irrational ratio

The side and diagonal of a square are incommensurable because their ratio is the square root of two.
2

adj
too different in kind or scale to be meaningfully compared

The study warns that ecological loss and short-term profit are incommensurable values.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · in mathematics, lacking a... irrationally related

2 adj · too different in kind or... incomparable disparate

Opposites

commensurable comparable

Word family

Forms incommensurables

Derived forms incommensurabilityincommensurably

Related forms irrational ratio measure incommensurate

Etymology

From Medieval Latin incommensurabilis, formed from in- ("not") + commensurabilis ("having a common measure"). The figurative sense extends mathematical nonmeasurement to values or qualities that resist direct comparison.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# incommensurable

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌɪnkəˈmɛnʃɚəbəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌɪnkəˈmenʃərəbəl/
**Frequency rank:** 485101

## Meanings
1. in mathematics, lacking a shared unit that measures each quantity exactly; having an irrational ratio
2. too different in kind or scale to be meaningfully compared

## Examples
- The side and diagonal of a square are incommensurable because their ratio is the square root of two.
- The study warns that ecological loss and short-term profit are incommensurable values.

## Synonyms
- incomparable
- disparate

## Antonyms
- commensurable
- comparable

## Derived Forms
- incommensurability
- incommensurably

## Related Forms
- irrational
- ratio
- measure
- incommensurate

## Etymology
From Medieval Latin incommensurabilis, formed from in- ("not") + commensurabilis ("having a common measure"). The figurative sense extends mathematical nonmeasurement to values or qualities that resist direct comparison.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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