What does incommunicable mean?
Incommunicable describes something that cannot be communicated or conveyed to other people, especially in words. Its strongest common use is with feelings, experiences, bonds, and qualities that resist explanation while still being deeply felt. A person might describe an incommunicable sense of grief, joy, peace, or understanding between friends and family. The word can also refer to information or knowledge that cannot be passed on. It is more expressive and literary than ordinary alternatives such as “hard to explain,” suggesting not merely that something is difficult to describe but that it exists beyond ordinary verbal exchange. Incommunicable should not be confused with “uncommunicative,” which characterizes a person rather than an experience or quality.
adjectiveUnable to be communicated, conveyed, or passed on to others. It can also describe feelings or experiences that cannot be adequately expressed in words.
- Unable to be communicated, conveyed, or passed on to others.
"The two artists shared an incommunicable bond that resisted explanation."
"Her sense of relief after years of secrecy was almost incommunicable."
"The landscape conveyed an incommunicable sense of vastness and solitude."
Some things can be shared perfectly in silence—and that is what incommunicable names.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does incommunicable come from?
The word was formed in the early 17th century from the Latin prefix in- meaning “not” and the English adjective “communicable,” which in turn comes from Latin communicare, meaning “to share” or “make common.” The Latin root communis is also the source of related English words such as “common,” “community,” “communicate,” and “communication.” The negative prefix emphasizes the inability to share or convey what is understood or experienced.
Related word forms
How incommunicable is actually used
This word is literary and formal, though it is also used in ordinary discussion of deeply personal experiences. It is more often used figuratively than as a technical term.
Easily confused with incommunicable
Uncommunicative describes a person who is unwilling or unable to share thoughts, whereas incommunicable describes something that cannot be communicated.