What does unreadable mean?
Unreadable is an adjective describing writing, text, labels, or other material that cannot be read or understood. Its most common application is to something physically or visually impossible to decipher, such as faded handwriting, a damaged document, or a poorly rendered sign. In this sense, the individual letters may be visible while the overall message remains inaccessible. Unreadable can also be used more subjectively for prose that is excessively complicated, dense, or unappealing. This broader use often suggests that readers may abandon the text rather than literally be unable to distinguish its characters. The word is standard in both British and American English and is often interchangeable with illegible, although illegible places greater emphasis on unreadable letters or script. Readable is its principal opposite. Unreadable is especially useful when describing real-world writing that conveys little practical information despite being physically present.
adjectiveUnable to be read, especially because letters are unclear, damaged, or otherwise impossible to decipher. It can also describe writing that is so difficult, dense, or unappealing that it cannot be read with ease or interest.
- Text, writing, or other material that cannot be deciphered or read.
- Writing that is too difficult, dense, or unappealing to read.
"The faded label was unreadable, even under magnification."
"The faded label was unreadable, even under magnification."
"His essay was so densely argued that it was effectively unreadable."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unreadable come from?
Unreadable was formed in English by attaching the negating prefix un- to readable, expressing the sense 'not able to be read.' Readable belongs to the wider English family of read, reader, and reading; read derives from Old English rǣdan, used for interpreting, advising, and taking counsel, and ultimately from Proto-Germanic *rēdaną. The formation follows the normal English pattern in which un- reverses the meaning of an adjective or participle.
Related word forms
How unreadable is actually used
Common in formal and informal English. Its dominant use describes writing that cannot be deciphered; the more subjective sense of writing being too difficult or unappealing to read is less common and depends strongly on context.
Easily confused with unreadable
Illegible specifically refers to letters or characters that cannot be deciphered, whereas unreadable can also describe writing that is technically decipherable but too difficult or unappealing to read.
Unread means that something has not yet been read, while unreadable means that it cannot be read or understood.