unintelligibility

Everyday

(formal) Unintelligibility is the state of being impossible or very hard to understand, especially speech or writing that cannot be made out. tree →

In the lessons

A formal, long word used about speech, handwriting, radio signals and messages. In language and science talk: the unintelligibility of a noisy signal, or of two languages to each other's speakers. In everyday talk say «you can't make it out».

Examples

• The unintelligibility of the old letter made it hard to read. tree →
• The radio message crackled into unintelligibility. tree →
• Mumbling leads to unintelligibility. tree →
• The unintelligibility of the code kept the secret safe. tree →
• Teachers complained about the unintelligibility of his handwriting. tree →
• Two dialects can drift towards unintelligibility over centuries. tree →

Note

Uncountable and very formal. Built from «intelligible» (able to be understood) + «un-» + «-ity». It has nothing to do with being unintelligent.