unprintable

[ uhn-prin-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. improper or unfit for print, especially because of obscenity or offensiveness.

unprintable

/ ʌnˈprɪntəbəl /

adjective

1. unsuitable for printing for reasons of obscenity, libel, bad taste, etc

Derived Forms

• unˈprintably, adverb
• unˈprintableness, noun

Other Words From

• un·printa·ble·ness noun
• un·printa·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of unprintable¹

First recorded in 1855–60; un- ¹ + printable

Example Sentences

I’ve used plenty of unprintable language while subjected to the “Earth 2” rhetoric of Fox News or the lies and conspiracies shared by folks like Musk.

From Los Angeles Times

These words are often unprintable, but flinging slurs is not substantively different than what Vance and Trump are doing with false accusations that Haitian immigrants are "eating the cats."

From Salon

Biden aides say, sometimes in unprintable language, that they don’t need so much free advice.

From Los Angeles Times

The sounds of people laughing were interrupted by loud thuds of heads hitting rocks or pipes, followed by more laughing — and words unprintable in a family newspaper.

From Los Angeles Times

There was a “Saturday Night Live” sketch that rhymed “bucket” with a phrase that is unprintable here.

From New York Times