English Reference
Adjective

incurable

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌɪnˈkjʊɹəbəɫ/ UK /ɪnkjˈɔːɹəbəl/ in·cur·able Health

adj.describing a sickness or a problem that cannot be fixed or healed. You use it when doctors cannot make a patient healthy again.

adj.referring to a medical condition or social problem for which no known remedy or treatment exists. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'remain'.


SIMPLE

The doctor told him that the disease is incurable.

CONTEXTUAL

Despite years of intensive research, some rare genetic disorders remain incurable with current medical technology.

COMPLEX

The philosopher argued that while some social ills are incurable, the effort to mitigate their effects remains a moral imperative for any functioning society.

Usage

Typically used as an adjective; when used as a noun, it refers to a person who has such a condition.

The Office actress thanks well-wishers for their support after she revealed she had incurable cancer.

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026

From Old French incurable, from Late Latin incurabilis.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin la-lat incurabilis
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated