# inadmissible

/ˌɪnædˈmɪsəbəɫ/ (US) · /ɪnɐdmˈɪsəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inadmissible
Updated: 2026-05-27

## Definition

not allowed to be used as evidence in a court of law. This usually happens because the evidence was obtained in a way that breaks the rules.

For teachers: not legally acceptable as evidence in a court of law. Often used to describe evidence obtained through illegal means or without proper procedure.

## Examples

- The judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible.
- The defense attorney argued that the witness's testimony was inadmissible because the witness was not present during the crime.
- The prosecution's case was significantly weakened when the court dismissed the key piece of digital evidence as inadmissible due to a failure to maintain a proper chain of custody.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.