inimitable

play

adjective in·im·i·ta·ble \(ˌ)i-ˈni-mə-tə-bəl\

Simple Definition of inimitable

: impossible to copy or imitate

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

Full Definition of inimitable

: not capable of being imitated : matchless <her own inimitable style>

inimitableness

noun

inimitably

play \-blē\ adverb

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Examples of inimitable in a sentence

<an inimitable performer of violin solos>

Did You Know?

Something that is inimitable is, literally, not able to be imitated. In actual usage the word describes things so uniquely extraordinary as to not be copied or equaled, which is why you often hear it used to praise outstanding talents or performances. (The antonym "imitable" describes things that are common or ordinary and could easily be replicated or surpassed.) Inimitable derives via Middle English from Latin inimitabilis. Be careful not to confuse it with "inimical" or "inimicable," two adjectives meaning hostile or harmful; those words derive from the same Latin root that gave us "enemy" ("inimicus").