indiscernible

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌɪndɪˈsɝnəbəl/ UK /ˌɪndɪˈsɜːnəbəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #69257

Meanings

1

adj
impossible or extremely difficult to perceive clearly

The footpath was almost indiscernible beneath the fallen leaves.
2

adj
impossible to distinguish from something else

Under the test conditions, the two samples were indiscernible from one another.
3

noun
chiefly philosophy: a thing or entity that cannot be distinguished from another by its properties

The identity of indiscernibles denies that two distinct indiscernibles can share every property.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · impossible or extremely... imperceptible indistinct undetectable

2 adj · impossible to distinguish... indistinguishableidentical-looking

3 noun · chiefly philosophy: a thing... indistinguishable entity

Opposites

discernible perceptible distinguishable

Word family

Forms indiscernibles

Derived forms indiscernibilityindiscerniblenessindiscernibly

Related forms discern discernible indistinguishableidentity of indiscernibles

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

almost indiscernible
so faint or slight that it can barely be perceived

Adverb + adjective

Etymology

Formed from in-, 'not,' + discernible. Discernible derives from discern, ultimately Latin discernere, 'to separate or distinguish,' from dis-, 'apart,' + cernere, 'to sift or distinguish.' The philosophical noun use treats an indistinguishable entity as an indiscernible.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# indiscernible

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌɪndɪˈsɝnəbəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌɪndɪˈsɜːnəbəl/
**Frequency rank:** 69257

## Meanings
1. impossible or extremely difficult to perceive clearly
2. impossible to distinguish from something else
3. chiefly philosophy: a thing or entity that cannot be distinguished from another by its properties

## Examples
- The footpath was almost indiscernible beneath the fallen leaves.
- Under the test conditions, the two samples were indiscernible from one another.
- The identity of indiscernibles denies that two distinct indiscernibles can share every property.

## Synonyms
- imperceptible
- indistinct
- undetectable
- indistinguishable

## Antonyms
- discernible
- perceptible
- distinguishable

## Derived Forms
- indiscernibility
- indiscernibleness
- indiscernibly

## Related Forms
- discern
- discernible
- indistinguishable
- identity of indiscernibles

## Etymology
Formed from in-, 'not,' + discernible. Discernible derives from discern, ultimately Latin discernere, 'to separate or distinguish,' from dis-, 'apart,' + cernere, 'to sift or distinguish.' The philosophical noun use treats an indistinguishable entity as an indiscernible.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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