What does unexplainably mean?
Unexplainably is an adverb meaning in a way that cannot be explained or accounted for. It is often used to describe events, behaviours, or sensations that seem mysterious, anomalous, or astonishing. For example, a machine may stop unexplainably, or a person may display inexplicably calm behaviour. The word is closely related to inexplicably and unaccountably, though unexplainably tends to put a sharper emphasis on the absence of an explanation. It also appears before adjectives such as beautiful or effective, where the quality is strikingly good and seems difficult to account for. Because the term can sound categorical, writers should use it when the cause is genuinely unclear rather than merely unknown to the speaker. In formal prose, inexplicably is often smoother and more familiar; unexplainably remains standard but somewhat less common. Overall, the word is useful for describing the boundary between what is known to have happened and why it happened, which remains unresolved.
adverbIn a manner that cannot be explained or accounted for; mysteriously or inexplicably. It can also emphasize how strikingly good, effective, or remarkable something is.
- In a way that cannot be explained or accounted for, especially of events or behaviours that seem mysterious, anomalous, or astonishing.
"The warning light came on unexplainably, sending the entire crew into a frantic search for the fault."
"The warning light came on unexplainably, sending the entire crew into a frantic search for the fault."
"Her voice had an unexplainably calming effect on the frightened horses."
Unexplainably compresses a mystery into one word: the evidence says it happened, but not why.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unexplainably come from?
Unexplainably was formed in English from un-, explain, the suffix -able, and the adverbial ending -ly. Explain ultimately comes from Latin explicare, built from ex-, meaning out, and plicare, meaning to fold or unfold, with related forms including explicable, explication, and inexplicable appearing in modern English.
How unexplainably is actually used
Unexplainably is standard in general English and is common in journalism and everyday description. It can sound categorical, so it is best used when the cause is genuinely unexplained rather than merely unknown to the speaker. In formal prose, inexplicably may sound slightly more familiar.
Easily confused with unexplainably
Both describe something that cannot be explained, but inexplicably is the more established and commonly used term, whereas unexplainably gives a somewhat sharper emphasis to the absence of an explanation.