inaudible

1 of 2

adjective

in·​au·​di·​ble (ˌ)i-ˈnȯ-də-bəl 

: not audible

inaudible comments

inaudibility

(ˌ)i-ˌnȯ-də-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

inaudibly

(ˌ)i-ˈnȯ-də-blē 

adverb

inaudibility

2 of 2

noun

in·​audibility (¦)in 

ən+

: the quality or state of being inaudible

Did you know?

With its negative prefix in-, inaudible means the opposite of audible. What's clearly audible to you may be inaudible to your elderly grandfather. Modern spy technology can turn inaudible conversations into audible ones with the use of high-powered directional microphones, so if you think you're being spied on, make sure there's a lot of other noise around you. And if you don't want everyone around you to know you're bored, keep your sighs inaudible.

Examples of inaudible in a Sentence

Adjective

She spoke so quietly that she was almost inaudible.

The sound is inaudible to humans but can be heard by dogs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Tornyol’s latest model, LeSonar2, features 32 ultrasonic emitters that produce ultrasonic pulses (inaudible to humans) which reflect off nearby objects or insects. — New Atlas, 26 July 2026

An inaudible heartbeat reverberates through the space at a frequency below human hearing, producing vibrations that can be felt by those standing nearby. — Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026

The audio of the sports stars’ heated conversation is largely inaudible, so Paul hopped online to offer his side of the story. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 18 July 2026

If these systems are ever brought to market, the characteristic sound of an espresso machine could be replaced by the inaudible vibrations of ultrasound. — Javier Carbajal, Wired News, 20 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Late Latin inaudibilis, from Latin in- + Late Latin audibilis audible

First Known Use

Adjective

1601, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inaudible

• audible
• laudable

Kids Definition

inaudible

adjective

in·​au·​di·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈȯd-ə-bəl 

: impossible to hear : not audible

inaudibility

(ˌ)in-ˌȯd-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

inaudibly

(ˈ)in-ˈȯd-ə-blē 

adverb