What does unanswerable mean?
Unanswerable is an adjective meaning that a question or problem cannot be answered or solved. It is commonly used when a situation lacks enough information, evidence, or a logically valid resolution. The term can also describe a demand or criticism that cannot be met or rebutted. In argument and debate, calling something unanswerable often marks it as a challenge that the speaker believes cannot be answered within the available terms. The adjective is generally formal but broadly understood, and it may suggest either a genuine epistemic impasse or a rhetorical dismissal of opposing claims. Because of that possible strategic tone, the word is often better reserved for questions that are demonstrably beyond available knowledge or solution. Unanswerable combines the negation prefix un- with answerable, making its meaning transparent: not able to be answered. It is especially useful in discussions of epistemology, ethics, law, and formal argument, where some questions or objections may admit no definitive answer.
adjectiveIncapable of being answered, replied to, or resolved. It describes a question, problem, objection, or demand for which no satisfactory or possible answer or solution exists.
- Incapable of being answered, replied to, or resolved.
"The committee was faced with an unanswerable question about the missing records."
"Her argument raised an unanswerable objection to the proposed explanation."
"Without additional evidence, the investigators faced several seemingly unanswerable questions."
An unanswered question awaits a reply; an unanswerable question may have no possible reply at all.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unanswerable come from?
The word is an English formation made by attaching the prefix un- to answerable. Answerable combines answer with the suffix -able, which was borrowed from Latin and expresses the sense “capable of being” something; answer itself descends from Old English. Unanswerable therefore expresses the idea that something is not able to be answered, while answer, answerable, and answering preserve the same lexical root.
Related word forms
How unanswerable is actually used
The adjective is formal but widely understood. In debate it can indicate a genuine lack of sufficient information or a valid logical impasse, but it may also function rhetorically as a strong way to dismiss a question without explaining why it cannot be answered.
Easily confused with unanswerable
An unanswered question has received no reply, whereas an unanswerable question cannot be answered adequately.
An answerable question can be answered, while an unanswerable question has no satisfactory or possible answer.