Illegibly: meaning, definitions and examples

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illegibly

 

[ ɪˈlɛdʒɪbli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

writing style

Illegibly refers to a manner of writing that is difficult or impossible to read. It denotes a lack of clarity or legibility in written text, often due to poor handwriting or unclear printing.

Synonyms

indistinctly, unclearly, unreadably

Examples of usage

  • He wrote the note illegibly, making it hard to understand.
  • The signature at the bottom was illegibly smudged.
  • She often scrawls her thoughts down illegibly in her journal.

Translations

Translations of the word "illegibly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ilegível

🇮🇳 अस्पष्ट रूप से

🇩🇪 unleserlich

🇮🇩 tidak terbaca

🇺🇦 незрозуміло

🇵🇱 nieczytelnie

🇯🇵 読みにくく

🇫🇷 illisible

🇪🇸 ilegible

🇹🇷 okunaksız

🇰🇷 읽을 수 없게

🇸🇦 غير قابل للقراءة

🇨🇿 nečitelně

🇸🇰 nečitateľne

🇨🇳 模糊不清

🇸🇮 nečitljivo

🇮🇸 óskýr

🇰🇿 түсініксіз

🇬🇪 არასახარბიალო

🇦🇿 oxunmaz

🇲🇽 ilegible

Etymology

The word 'illegibly' is derived from the prefix 'il-' which comes from Latin, meaning 'not' or 'opposite of', combined with 'legible', which originates from the Latin word 'legibilis', meaning 'that can be read', itself from 'legere', meaning 'to read'. The use of 'illegibly' in English dates back to the late 19th century, where it was used to describe writing that cannot be easily deciphered. Commonly associated with poor handwriting, it became relevant in educational discussions regarding the importance of clear writing. Today, 'illegibly' emphasizes the frustration of attempting to read something that was poorly written, impacting communication.