Unrecognizable Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐ค
unrecognizable
[หษnหrekษษกหnฤซzษb(ษ)l ]
Definition
incomprehensible
Not able to be identified or recognized; not recognizable.
Synonyms
incomprehensible, indiscernible, unfamiliar.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| unrecognizable |
When something has changed so much that it cannot be identified as what it previously was.
|
| incomprehensible |
Used when something is difficult or impossible to understand, often due to its complexity or lack of clarity.
|
| unfamiliar |
When encountering something not known or recognized from previous experience.
|
| indiscernible |
For situations where something is not clear or difficult to distinguish, particularly visually or audibly.
|
Examples of usage
- It was an unrecognizable language to me.
- The changes to the building were so drastic that it became unrecognizable to the original design.
- The passage of time had made his face unrecognizable to her.
- The handwriting was so messy that it was unrecognizable.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Psychology
- Studies have shown that familiarity plays a crucial role in recognition; when something becomes unrecognizable, our brain struggles to match it with prior knowledge.
- Cognitive dissonance can occur when we encounter something unrecognizable, as it challenges our understanding of how we perceive the world.
Art
- Artists sometimes use techniques to make subjects unrecognizable, such as abstraction, to evoke new feelings and interpretations from viewers.
- In contemporary art, the unrecognizable can challenge societal norms, forcing us to rethink our assumptions about identity and representation.
Pop Culture
- In films, characters often undergo drastic transformations to become unrecognizable โ for instance, an actor may change their appearance dramatically for a role.
- In disguise films or superhero stories, the theme of unrecognizability is common as it builds suspense and intrigue in the plot.
Science
- In biology, some species can become unrecognizable due to mutations or adaptations that help them survive in changing environments.
- Unrecognizability can also apply to data and information, where transformations in formatting or presentation can obscure the original meaning.
Origin of 'unrecognizable'
Main points about word origin
- The word comes from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not', combined with 'recognize', which comes from Latin roots 're-' meaning 'again' and 'cognoscere' meaning 'to know'.
- The roots show that the word literally means 'not able to be known again' or 'not able to be identified'.
The word 'unrecognizable' is a combination of the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'recognizable', which is derived from the verb 'recognize'. The term first appeared in the English language in the mid-19th century, with the prefix 'un-' used to negate the meaning of 'recognizable'. Over time, 'unrecognizable' has become a commonly used adjective to describe something that cannot be identified or recognized.
See also: recognition, recognizable, recognize, recognized, recognizing, underrecognized.