What does unquantifiable mean?
Unquantifiable is an adjective for something that cannot be measured or expressed reliably in numerical terms. It is especially common in discussions of social effects, business value, environmental damage, personal experience, and other subjects where a number may be incomplete or misleading. The word does not merely mean that no measurement has yet been attempted; it suggests that the phenomenon is difficult or impossible to reduce to a precise quantity. Nevertheless, speakers sometimes use it more broadly to mean "too great to calculate," as in the incalculable value of a gift. In formal and persuasive writing, the term can signal that human, cultural, or long-term considerations matter alongside measurable costs and benefits. It is more forceful and explicit than vague expressions such as "hard to measure," while the related word unquantified means only that a value has not been quantified. Overall, unquantifiable is useful when the absence of a reliable figure is itself important to the argument.
adjectiveUnable to be measured, assessed, or expressed reliably in numerical terms.
- Unable to be measured, assessed, or expressed reliably in numerical terms.
"Against the unquantifiable pleasure of hearing an orchestra tune itself before a concert, the inconvenience of parking seemed trivial."
"The charity's influence on community wellbeing remains unquantifiable despite decades of work."
"The model still struggles with the unquantifiable nature of human trust."
Some values resist spreadsheets: unquantifiable names what a number cannot fully capture.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unquantifiable come from?
Unquantifiable combines the English prefix un-, meaning "not," with quantifiable, which is derived from quantify. Quantify comes from Latin quantus, meaning "how much," together with the Latin suffix -ficare, meaning "to make," from facere, "to make." The resulting word literally conveys the sense "not able to be made quantitative" and developed within the English vocabulary of measurement and calculation.
Related word forms
How unquantifiable is actually used
Formal and often abstract, this adjective is used especially for impacts, benefits, costs, qualities, and experiences that cannot be assigned a reliable numerical measure. It is more specific than vague wording such as "hard to measure."
Easily confused with unquantifiable
Unquantifiable means that something cannot be reliably expressed numerically, whereas unquantified means only that no numerical value has been assigned to it.
Unquantifiable is a general term for anything that resists numerical measurement, while incalculable often emphasizes a value or effect too great to calculate.