What does inadmissible mean?
Inadmissible means that something cannot be admitted or accepted. Its most familiar use is in law: evidence, testimony, arguments, or claims may be called inadmissible when procedural rules or legal principles prevent them from being considered. The word can also be used more broadly for ideas, materials, or behaviour that are unsuitable or unacceptable. It is more formal and specialized than words such as unacceptable or forbidden, and its frequent appearance in courtrooms reflects the distinction between a fact's truth and its eligibility to be presented as evidence. A statement can therefore be truthful yet inadmissible. The word is pronounced with stress on the middle syllable and is normally used attributively in phrases such as inadmissible evidence.
adjectiveNot admissible: specifically, not allowed or acceptable as evidence or as a legal claim; more generally, unsuitable for acceptance or use.
- Not admissible as evidence, testimony, or a legal claim.
- Not acceptable or suitable to be allowed, used, or considered.
"The judge ruled that the witness's testimony was inadmissible because it had been obtained improperly."
"The defense argued that the recording was inadmissible because it had been obtained without a warrant."
"Such an extreme assumption is inadmissible in a serious scientific discussion."
A fact may be true, yet still be inadmissible if the law says it cannot be heard in court.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does inadmissible come from?
Inadmissible was formed in English from the prefix in-, meaning not, and admissible, meaning acceptable or allowable. Admissible comes from Latin admissibilis, from admittere, meaning to allow or let in, ultimately based on ad-, meaning to or toward, and mittere, meaning to send or put. The resulting formation retains the central sense of something that may not be allowed to enter a legal or argumentative framework.
Related word forms
How inadmissible is actually used
The word is most common in legal and formal contexts. In general use, it can sound deliberately technical and is often replaced by unacceptable, unsuitable, or not allowed.
Easily confused with inadmissible
Admissible evidence or arguments are accepted as relevant and permissible, whereas inadmissible material is excluded.
Impermissible means forbidden or not allowed, while inadmissible most often describes material or claims that cannot be accepted in legal proceedings.