unidentifiable

adjective

un·​iden·​ti·​fi·​able ˌən-ī-ˌden-tə-ˈfī-ə-bəl How to pronounce unidentifiable (audio)
-ə-ˌden-
: impossible to identify : not identifiable
an unidentifiable odor
unidentifiably
ˌən-ī-ˌden-tə-ˈfī-ə-blē How to pronounce unidentifiable (audio)
-ə-ˌden-
adverb

Examples of unidentifiable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Officials are planning to bury unidentifiable remains in a mass grave. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 Finally, on a Sunday night in January, Ricky Craig began stringing Christmas lights around the base of a vast, unidentifiable object—half of the storybook cottage formerly known as Pinky. — Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026 At one point, one of the girls moved to the next window, holding an unidentifiable object, which seemed to briefly spark. — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026 Photos attached with the application show several clear plastic bags with an unidentifiable substance strewn among construction materials like carpenter pencils. — Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unidentifiable

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unidentifiable was circa 1909

Rhymes for unidentifiable

See All Rhymes for unidentifiable

Browse Nearby Words

unideal
unidentifiable
unidentified
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unidentifiable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unidentifiable. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All