What does indigestible mean?
Indigestible means difficult to digest, especially as food, and by extension difficult to understand, assimilate, or process. In physical contexts, it describes food that the stomach cannot digest easily, though it does not necessarily mean the food is inedible. In figurative contexts, writers use it for information, arguments, or experiences that are mentally taxing or resist clear explanation. The word often carries a tone of complaint: an article can be called indigestible when it is long, complicated, or unappealing, while an account of events may be described as emotionally hard to absorb. Although “indigestible” is not restricted to food, it has a vivid physical metaphor: something too substantial or tangled to take in comfortably. It is a useful word when precision matters because it distinguishes difficulty of digestion or comprehension from simple unappetizingness, inedibility, or a reader’s lack of interest. The adjective is common in British and American English, with a slightly formal, literary feel in figurative use.
adjectiveDifficult to digest; figuratively, difficult to understand, assimilate, or process.
- Difficult or unsuitable for the stomach to digest.
- Difficult to understand, assimilate, or process, especially information or an argument.
"The report was so dense and technical that it proved virtually indigestible."
"The heavy, overly rich meal left her feeling unwell because it was far too indigestible."
"His account of the complicated financial arrangements was both fascinating and thoroughly indigestible."
An idea can be indigestible when the mind cannot absorb it—truth too tangled to swallow.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does indigestible come from?
The English adjective dates from the early 17th century and reflects French usage. It was formed with the prefix “in-” and “digestible,” meaning not digestible, and belongs to a family of English words based on the Latin root “digest-,” represented in “digest,” “digestible,” and “digestion.”
How indigestible is actually used
The word is standard in British and American English and often has a slightly formal or literary tone. In figurative use, it suggests something mentally demanding or resistant to clear understanding, not merely that a subject is uninteresting.
Easily confused with indigestible
Indigestible means difficult to digest, whereas inedible means unsuitable or unsafe to eat.