unverifiable

Everyday

Unverifiable means impossible to check or prove true or false: «an unverifiable claim». tree →

In the lessons

In lessons on news, the internet and fake news, pupils learn to be careful with unverifiable claims: a story with no source, no evidence and no way to check. In science, a good idea must be testable; an unverifiable idea cannot be tested. Phrases: «unverifiable claims», «unverifiable rumours».

Examples

• The post made an unverifiable claim that eating carrots lets you see in the dark. tree →
• Rumours on social media are often unverifiable. tree →
• The story about the ghost in the library is unverifiable. tree →
• Good reporters do not print unverifiable facts as true. tree →
• His boast that he once met the Queen was unverifiable. tree →
• Scientists prefer ideas that can be tested, not unverifiable ones. tree →

Note

Long word: un-VER-i-fy-a-bul. From «verify» (to check that something is true). Unverifiable does not mean false: it means we cannot check it. Opposite: verifiable.