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
First Known Use: 1844
Other Sociology Terms
INCOMMUNICADO Defined for English Language Learners
incommunicado
playDefinition of incommunicado for English Language Learners
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: not able to communicate with other people : in a situation or state that does not allow communication with other people
Learn More about incommunicado
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Spanish Central: Translation of incommunicado Nglish: Translation of incommunicado for Spanish speakers
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