invisible

[ in-viz-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. not visible; not perceptible by the eye:

   invisible fluid.

2. withdrawn from or out of sight; hidden:

   an invisible seam.

   Synonyms: obscure, veiled

3. not perceptible or discernible by the mind:

   invisible differences.

4. not ordinarily found in financial statements or reflected in statistics or a listing:

   Goodwill is an invisible asset to a business.

5. concealed from public knowledge.

noun

1. an invisible thing or being.
2. the invisible, the unseen or spiritual world.

invisible

/ ɪnˈvɪzəbəl /

adjective

1. not visible; not able to be perceived by the eye

   invisible rays

2. concealed from sight; hidden
3. not easily seen or noticed

   invisible mending

4. kept hidden from public view; secret; clandestine
5. economics of or relating to services rather than goods in relation to the invisible balance

   invisible earnings

noun

1. economics an invisible item of trade; service

Derived Forms

• inˌvisiˈbility, noun
• inˈvisibly, adverb

Other Words From

• in·visi·bili·ty in·visi·ble·ness noun
• in·visi·bly adverb
• quasi-in·visi·ble adjective
• quasi-in·visi·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of invisible¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English word from Latin word invīsibilis. See in- ³, visible

Example Sentences

One of the problems with devices designed to make people essentially invisible to sharks is that eyesight isn’t the only tool they use to detect prey: They also use their sense of smell and their ability to detect vibrations in the water.

From Los Angeles Times

“I thought maybe Sister Agnes would be nervous too, so I used that. I didn’t have to repress it. She’s not part of the brawl with the men. She doesn’t get into the opinion of who should be the next pope. When she does speak, she speaks what she knows and goes back to her vow of being silent and invisible and obedient.”

From Los Angeles Times

We float around the room like an invisible spider, circling and weaving this trio into a diabolical web.

From Los Angeles Times

Scientists believe that it evolved to protect human beings from invisible contaminants such as pathogens and parasites.

From Salon

One of the survivors of domestic abuse, who meets the Queen, talks of the "invisible chains" that stop people escaping, particularly when they have children.

From BBC

Related Words

• imperceptible
• microscopic
• unseen