What does unrealizable mean?
Unrealizable is a formal adjective meaning impossible to bring into existence, achieve, or make real. It is commonly applied to goals, dreams, plans, expectations, and visions. Unlike an unrealized plan, which may still be implemented, an unrealizable plan is considered incapable of realization even when adequate time, money, and effort are available. The word also carries the implication that the proposed outcome lies outside the bounds of practical possibility. For example, a government may describe the complete elimination of poverty through a particular policy as an unrealizable target. Although “unrealizable” appears in both British and American English, British usage commonly favors the spelling “unrealisable.” The word is useful when discussing ambitious or fundamentally impossible proposals, though its relatively formal register makes it less suitable for casual speech than alternatives such as “unachievable” or “impossible.”
adjectiveImpossible to bring into existence, achieve, or make real. It describes an aim, plan, ideal, or expectation that cannot be realized.
- Impossible to bring into existence, achieve, or make real.
"The committee acknowledged that reducing poverty through tax exemptions alone was an unrealizable goal."
"Ending hunger through a single technological innovation proved to be an unrealizable expectation."
"Her unrealizable vision of a conflict-free society became the subject of a political debate."
Some ambitions are difficult to achieve; unrealizable ones lie beyond possibility itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unrealizable come from?
Unrealizable combines the English prefix “un-” with realizable, producing an adjective meaning “not able to be realized.” Realizable was formed using the productive suffix “-izable,” while its root is associated with “realize” and ultimately with Latin realis, meaning “real.” The same root appears in familiar English cognates such as realize, realization, and realistic.
Related word forms
How unrealizable is actually used
This is a formal and relatively uncommon word, especially outside academic, legal, and political contexts. British English more often spells it “unrealisable.” It is stronger than “impractical,” which may describe something that is possible but difficult.
Easily confused with unrealizable
An unrealized plan has not yet been carried out, whereas an unrealizable plan cannot be carried out at all.