indelible

1 of 2

adjective

in·​del·​i·​ble in-ˈde-lə-bəl 

1

a

: that cannot be removed, washed away, or erased

b

: making marks that cannot easily be removed

an indelible pencil

2

a

: lasting

indelible memories

b

: unforgettable, memorable

an indelible performance

indelibility

(ˌ)in-ˌde-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

indelibly

in-ˈde-lə-blē 

adverb

indelibility

2 of 2

noun

in·​del·​i·​bil·​i·​ty (ˌ)inˌdeləˈbilətē 

-ətē, 

-i

plural -es

: the quality or state of being indelible

Synonyms of indelible

Adjective

• memorable

Examples of indelible in a Sentence

Adjective

But the most indelible evening of the rebellion for me was the night I had first got beaten. —Amiri Baraka, The Autobiography of Leroi Jones, 1984

All wars change society and hence leave an indelible imprint on literary culture. —Michiko Kakutani, New York Times Book Review, 15 Apr. 1984

The illustrator of children's books surpasses other artists in the impressionability of his audience; it is beyond calculation, no doubt, what touches will produce an indelible effect, when the receiving surface of a child's psyche is so soft and mysteriously laden and momentous with its own raw energy. —John Updike, New York Times Book Review, 4 Dec. 1983

winning the state basketball championship was our team's most indelible experience

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

East of Eden, a modern interpretation of the novel, will explore the multigenerational saga of the Trask family, focusing new attention on its indelible antihero, Cathy Ames (Pugh). — Denise Petski, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026

The city that already changed the Olympic movement by hosting the most commercially successful Games ever in 1984 could leave an equally indelible mark on the Paralympic movement. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026

The creator of vivid, indelible fantasies for women to try on and to embody was also a fragile and anguished man, troubled throughout his life by alcohol, drug dependency, and bouts of debilitating depression. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026

By that time, Strong had already built up a vast and loyal fan base and created several indelible characters, while Fineman, only three years in, was well on her way to becoming one of the touchstone players of the 2020s. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English indelyble, from Medieval Latin indelibilis, alteration of Latin indelebilis, from in- + delēre to delete

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for indelible

• compellable

Kids Definition

indelible

adjective

in·​del·​i·​ble in-ˈdel-ə-bəl 

1

: impossible to erase, remove, or blot out

an indelible impression

2

: making or leaving marks not easily erased

an indelible pencil

indelible ink

indelibly

-blē 

adverb