infallible
Americanadjective
-
absolutely trustworthy or sure.
an infallible rule.
-
unfailing in effectiveness or operation; certain.
an infallible remedy.
-
not fallible; exempt from liability to error, as persons, their judgment, or pronouncements.
an infallible principle.
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Roman Catholic Church. immune from fallacy or liability to error in expounding matters of faith or morals by virtue of the promise made by Christ to the Church.
noun
adjective
-
not fallible; not liable to error
-
not liable to failure; certain; sure
an infallible cure
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completely dependable or trustworthy
noun
Related Words
See reliable.
Other Word Forms
- infallibility noun
- infallibleness noun
- infallibly adverb
- noninfallible adjective
- noninfallibly adverb
Etymology
Origin of infallible
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word infallibilis. See in- 3, fallible
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
To be sure, the “lipstick index” was never infallible, or even very popular, as far as economic theories go.
From MarketWatch
Why did a church with an infallible papal teacher need councils?
But it is a reminder that just like AI, traditional rules of thumb for investing aren’t infallible.
From Barron's
“Welcome to Swanburne, Incorrigible children! I am Miss Mortimer, and you have just met my little lap cat, Shantaloo. She is infallibly shrewd. See how she already thinks of you as friends?”
From Literature
“It has to be thought of as infallible.”
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
