infallible

[ in-fal-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. absolutely trustworthy or sure:

   an infallible rule.

2. unfailing in effectiveness or operation; certain:

   an infallible remedy.

3. not fallible; exempt from liability to error, as persons, their judgment, or pronouncements:

   an infallible principle.

4. 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

1. an infallible person or thing.

infallible

/ ɪnˈfæləbəl /

adjective

1. not fallible; not liable to error
2. not liable to failure; certain; sure

   an infallible cure

3. completely dependable or trustworthy

noun

1. a person or thing that is incapable of error or failure

Derived Forms

• inˌfalliˈbility, noun
• inˈfallibly, adverb

Other Words From

• in·falli·bili·ty in·falli·ble·ness noun
• in·falli·bly adverb
• nonin·falli·ble adjective
• nonin·falli·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of infallible¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word infallibilis. See in- ³, fallible

Synonym Study

See reliable.

Example Sentences

“At SRC we believe that God’s Word is authoritative and infallible. It is Truth. And as Genesis makes clear, God wonderfully and immutably created each person as male or female,” she wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

Garfield, who is Jewish, said everyone, including Gibson, deserves a second chance because, "none of us are infallible," Variety reported.

From Salon

This is from speaking to a lot of pilots, there's a stigma that pilots are infallible.

From Salon

Members of such a cult show unquestioning loyalty to a strong leader, such as Argentina’s Juan and Eva Perón or Italy’s Benito Mussolini, whom they perceive as infallible and truthful.

From Salon

“You took the position that you represented ‘the science’; your words came across as final and as infallible in matters pertaining to the pandemic.”

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• authoritative
• flawless
• foolproof
• unbeatable