Illegible: meaning, definitions and examples

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illegible

 

[ ɪˈlɛdʒ.ə.bəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

written text

Illegible refers to writing or printing that is difficult or impossible to read. This can be due to unclear handwriting, poor printing quality, or excessive wear and tear.

Synonyms

blurred, incomprehensible, indecipherable, unreadable.

Examples of usage

  • The doctor’s prescription was illegible, causing confusion at the pharmacy.
  • Her handwriting was so small and messy that it became illegible.
  • After years of fading, the inscription on the monument was nearly illegible.
  • The note was written hurriedly, leaving it almost entirely illegible.

Translations

Translations of the word "illegible" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ilegível

🇮🇳 अस्पष्ट

🇩🇪 unleserlich

🇮🇩 tidak terbaca

🇺🇦 незрозумілий

🇵🇱 nieczytelny

🇯🇵 読めない

🇫🇷 illisible

🇪🇸 ilegible

🇹🇷 okunaksız

🇰🇷 읽을 수 없는

🇸🇦 غير قابل للقراءة

🇨🇿 nečitelný

🇸🇰 nečitelný

🇨🇳 无法辨认的

🇸🇮 nečitljiv

🇮🇸 ólesanlegt

🇰🇿 оқылмайтын

🇬🇪 არაწვდილი

🇦🇿 oxumaq mümkün olmayan

🇲🇽 ilegible

Etymology

The word 'illegible' comes from the Latin root 'legere', which means 'to read'. The prefix 'il-' indicates negation. So, 'illegible' literally means 'not able to be read'. The term emerged in English during the late 15th century, combining the Latin elements into an adjective that describes text which cannot be deciphered by the reader. Originally, it was mostly used to refer to handwritten documents, where flaws in legibility could significantly impact their comprehension. With the advent of printing and digital communication, the usage of 'illegible' has expanded, but it still conveys the same essence of difficulty in reading text.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,759, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.