unknowable

[ uhn-noh-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. not knowable; incapable of being known or understood.

noun

1. something that is unknowable.
2. the Unknowable, the postulated reality lying behind all phenomena but not cognizable by any of the processes by which the mind cognizes phenomenal objects.

Unknowable

¹

/ ʌnˈnəʊəbəl /

noun

1. the Unknowable
   philosophy the ultimate reality that underlies all phenomena but cannot be known

unknowable

²

/ ʌnˈnəʊəbəl /

adjective

1. incapable of being known or understood
2. 1. beyond human understanding
   2. ( as noun )

      the unknowable

Derived Forms

• unˈknowableness, noun
• unˈknowably, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of unknowable¹

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; un- ¹, knowable

Example Sentences

The implications are four dimensional, complicated, disrupting – and the precise reactions and consequences of those reactions are largely unknowable and unmappable.

From BBC

But its long-term impact on so-called legacy media, TV and movies was still unknowable.

From Salon

“Again, this is kind of unknowable,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead of using the supernatural as an analogy for the unknowable weight of loss, the film is steeped in this burden.

From Salon

“We believe the immediate and long-term impacts to the local entertainment economy from the fires will prove significant, but these are also unknowable at this time.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• baffling
• cryptic
• curious
• dark
• enigmatic
• inexplicable
• inscrutable
• magical
• mystical
• mystifying
• obscure
• perplexing
• puzzling
• secretive
• strange
• unknown
• weird