unobtainable

adjective un·ob·tain·able \ ˌən-əb-ˈtā-nə-bəl , -äb- \

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

Definition of unobtainable

: not capable of being obtained : not available : not obtainable

an unobtainable objective

a gem so rare as to be virtually unobtainable

See unobtainable defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of unobtainable from the Web

But using leverage to gain something that otherwise would be unobtainable is not uncommon.

— dan walters, SFChronicle.com, "Genteel extortion cancels 3 California ballot measures," 3 July 2018
But like those two widely respected men, Adams, even at 70, is forever seeking unobtainable perfection, forever teaching.

— k.c. johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Former Bulls assistant Ron Adams is the 'truth teller' on Steve Kerr's Warriors staff," 2 June 2018
Ruth’s record seemed more unobtainable with each strikeout and pop-up.

— edward kosner, WSJ, "‘A Season in the Sun’ Review: Those Weren’t the Days," 12 Apr. 2018
Taken as a whole, Honda's Civic Type R is a giant middle finger to the unobtainable Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the world.

— jim resnick, Ars Technica, "America finally gets Honda’s best: The 2018 Civic Type R," 22 Jan. 2018
This year, Melbourne’s median house price hit a record-breaking AU$826,000 (almost $650,000), confirming that homeownership is officially unobtainable for almost everyone.

— jennifer neal, The Root, "For Those Considering Blaxit, I Present to You: Melbourne (Yes, Australia)," 18 July 2017
Firearms are largely unobtainable for ordinary Chinese, and such attacks are more often carried out with knives or homemade explosives.

— Bloomberg.com, "Two Killed, Nine Hurt in Cleaver Attack At Chinese Walmart Store," 17 July 2017
College seemed unobtainable, so Beaver worked in fast-food restaurants, working his way up to manager.

— gabrielle russon, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Magic Kingdom job brings joy, if not riches, for longtime Disney employee," 17 July 2017
Mortgage companies usually require at least a 5% deposit, a figure that is all but unobtainable for a young family on a tight budget — without access to the bank of mom and dad.

— jane onyanga-omara, USA TODAY, "'Frozen out': Britain's shockingly unaffordable housing market," 12 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unobtainable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.