inconclusive
Americanadjective
-
not conclusive; not resolving fully all doubts or questions.
inconclusive evidence.
-
without final results or outcome.
inconclusive experiments.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- inconclusively adverb
- inconclusiveness noun
Etymology
Origin of inconclusive
First recorded in 1680–90; in- 3 + conclusive
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.
A leadership change and inconclusive evidence of artificial-intelligence momentum left Adobe investors with more questions than answers after Thursday’s earnings report.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 13, 2026
Independent polling has painted an inconclusive picture about which Democratic candidate would be more competitive in November.
From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026
The cause of two teenage deaths at a holiday park is yet to be established after initial tests returned inconclusive results, Humberside Police has said.
From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026
The finale of “It Was Just an Accident” is disturbingly inconclusive.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026
The Italians had been locked in futile combat along the Isonzo River in Austria since the summer of 1915, fighting a succession of inconclusive battles.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
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.
