incommunicado

adverb or adjective in·com·mu·ni·ca·do \ ˌin-kə-ˌmyü-nə-ˈkä-(ˌ)dō \

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Definition of incommunicado

: without means of communication : in a situation or state not allowing communication

a prisoner held incommunicado

remained incommunicado while working on her book

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Did You Know?

Incommunicado ultimately comes from Latin but made its way into English via Spanish. We borrowed the word (with a slightly modified spelling) from the past participle of the Spanish verb incomunicar, meaning "to deprive of communication." The Spanish word, in turn, derives from the Latin prefix in- and the verb communicare, meaning "to communicate."

Origin and Etymology of incommunicado

Spanish incomunicado, from past participle of incomunicar to deprive of communication, from in- (from Latin) + comunicar to communicate, from Latin communicare

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First Known Use: 1844

in the meaning defined above

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