unknowable

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ʌnˈnoʊəbəl/ UK /ʌnˈnəʊəbəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #46613

Meanings

1

adj
impossible to know, discover, or determine

The exact number of lost manuscripts is probably unknowable.
2

noun
a fact, thing, or question that cannot be known

What lies beyond the observable universe remains one of science's unknowables.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · impossible to know,... incognizable indeterminable inapprehensible

2 noun · a fact, thing, or question... mystery

Opposites

knowable discoverable certain

Word family

Derived forms unknowabilityunknowably

Related forms know knowledge mystery agnosticism

Etymology

Formed from un- ("not") + knowable. Knowable combines know with -able; know is inherited from Old English cnawan ("recognize, know"), from a Germanic verb ultimately related to the Indo-European root also seen in Greek gnosis and Latin cognoscere. Philosophical writing often applies unknowable to realities beyond possible experience.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# unknowable

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ʌnˈnoʊəbəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ʌnˈnəʊəbəl/
**Frequency rank:** 46613

## Meanings
1. impossible to know, discover, or determine
2. a fact, thing, or question that cannot be known

## Examples
- The exact number of lost manuscripts is probably unknowable.
- What lies beyond the observable universe remains one of science's unknowables.

## Synonyms
- incognizable
- indeterminable
- inapprehensible

## Antonyms
- knowable
- discoverable
- certain

## Derived Forms
- unknowability
- unknowably

## Related Forms
- know
- knowledge
- mystery
- agnosticism

## Etymology
Formed from un- ("not") + knowable. Knowable combines know with -able; know is inherited from Old English cnawan ("recognize, know"), from a Germanic verb ultimately related to the Indo-European root also seen in Greek gnosis and Latin cognoscere. Philosophical writing often applies unknowable to realities beyond possible experience.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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