unreadable

adjective

un·​read·​able ˌən-ˈrē-də-bəl 

: not readable: such as

a

: not decipherable : illegible

unreadable handwriting

b

: impossible to read and understand : incomprehensible

… a flawed, unreadable, misleading bill that garnered support based on propaganda and clever—but false—talking points.

—Marilyn M. Singleton

c

: impossible to interpret

The expression on her face was unreadable.

d

: not enjoyable or interesting enough to engage the reader

an unreadable novel

Synonyms

• illegible
• indecipherable
• undecipherable

Examples of unreadable in a Sentence

the old book contains an inscription, but the handwriting is cramped and unreadable

Recent Examples on the Web

Even if a language was unreadable, a good paleographer could spot small, stylistic tells distinguishing one scribe from the next. —Ariel Sabar, The Atlantic, 8 Aug. 2024

The revolver’s serial number had been ground off and was unreadable. —Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 1 Aug. 2024

Portions of the logbooks were unreadable, but Jefferson found that between June 2021 and June 2023, Black people were arrested far more often than White people, even adjusting for their percentage of the population. —Robert Klemko, Washington Post, 3 July 2024

Some of the elements appear almost typographical, although with characters so enlarged that only unreadable details endure. —Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 5 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1655, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

unreadable

adjective

un·​read·​able

ˌən-ˈrēd-ə-bəl,

ˈən-

1

: too dull or unattractive to read

a long, unreadable essay

2

: illegible

unreadable handwriting