What does unsinkable mean?
Unsinkable is an adjective meaning unable to be sunk, particularly by floating. Its literal use applies mainly to vessels, ships, and other objects designed or described as impossible to send beneath the water. The word also has a widely established figurative meaning: a person, organization, public figure, or reputation may be called unsinkable if it appears able to survive criticism, scandal, financial failure, or other forms of damage. In this sense, the word conveys exceptional resilience, though it may also suggest that an institution is protected from consequences or unusually resistant to scrutiny. The expression became especially memorable through claims surrounding the Titanic, which was widely described as unsinkable before disaster proved otherwise. Consequently, modern uses often carry an ironic undertone. Unsinkable is useful because it compresses both literal physical endurance and figurative reputational or institutional resilience into a vivid, readily understood description.
adjectiveUnable to be sunk, especially by floating. By extension, it describes a person, organization, or reputation that seems impossible to damage, discredit, or bring down.
- Unable to be sunk or remain beneath the surface of water.
- Able to withstand damage, criticism, disgrace, or collapse; exceptionally secure or enduring.
"The crew trusted their apparently unsinkable vessel, but the storm proved every vessel vulnerable."
"Rescue teams searched for the survivors of the supposedly unsinkable vessel."
"Despite years of scandal, the politician remained remarkably unsinkable."
The Titanic was famously described as unsinkable—a claim that made its sinking even more unforgettable.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unsinkable come from?
Unsinkable was formed in English during the 19th century from the prefix un-, meaning “not,” the verb sink, and the suffix -able, meaning “able to be.” Sink ultimately comes from Old English sincan and is related to Germanic words for submerging an object. Its derived forms include sinking, sinker, and sunken, while the Latin-derived suffix -able also appears in many English adjectives describing capability or susceptibility.
Related word forms
How unsinkable is actually used
The word is standard in both British and American English. Its figurative use is common and often slightly ironic, especially when describing an institution or reputation that is repeatedly challenged but continues to survive.