What does unknowability mean?
Unknowability is the noun for the quality of something being impossible or impossible in principle to know. It differs from ordinary uncertainty, which can often be reduced by gathering more evidence: unknowability suggests that some facts, experiences, or principles may lie permanently beyond human understanding. The word is especially associated with philosophical debates about consciousness, the universe, ethics, and the limits of scientific explanation, although writers also use it more broadly for mysteries that resist investigation. In a sentence, it usually modifies a subject such as the universe, nature, consciousness, or the future. The expression carries an abstract, reflective tone and often conveys not merely the absence of current knowledge but the possibility of a deeper cognitive limit. Consequently, it is particularly useful when discussing uncertainty as a fundamental condition rather than as a temporary or practical problem.
nounThe quality or state of being unknowable: something cannot be known, understood, or determined with certainty. In philosophical and scientific contexts, it may refer to a fundamental limit on what can be known.
- The quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or determine with certainty.
- A fundamental philosophical or scientific limit on the possibility of acquiring certain knowledge.
"The discovery prompted a profound reflection on the unknowability of the universe."
"The endless variety of natural forms inspired reflections on the unknowability of nature."
"Her lecture examined the unknowability of consciousness and the limits of empirical research."
The plural is rare; unknowability is normally treated as an uncountable abstract noun.
"The novel explores several unknowabilities that reason alone cannot resolve."
Unknowability captures a striking possibility: some questions may remain beyond the reach of knowledge itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of unknowability
Unknowability was formed by adding the noun-forming suffix -ity to unknowable, which combines the negative prefix un- with know and the adjective suffix -able. Know descends from Old English cnāwan, inherited from the Germanic family, while the other elements reflect established English word-forming patterns. The noun thus turns an adjective into an abstract expression for the condition of not being knowable. Its related forms, including unknowable, unknowing, knowledge, and acknowledge, all connect with the same long-standing root associated with knowing.
How unknowability is actually used
This is a formal, abstract noun used especially in philosophy, science, literary criticism, and discussions of uncertainty. It normally denotes a property or limit of knowledge rather than a single unknown fact.
Easily confused with unknowability
Unknowability is the noun naming the quality of being impossible to know, whereas unknowable is the adjective describing something that cannot be known.
An unknown is a particular fact, object, or quantity that has not been identified, while unknowability names the broader condition or quality of not being knowable.