Word
incurable
Phoneticsin·cur·able
US/ˌɪnˈkjʊɹəbəɫ/
UK/ɪnkjˈɔːɹəbəl/
Medicine
Definition
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'.
Examples
“The doctor told him that the disease is incurable.”
“Despite years of intensive research, some rare genetic disorders remain incurable with current medical technology.”
“The philosopher argued that while some social ills are incurable, the effort to mitigate their effects remains a moral imperative for any functioning society.”
Examples
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.
Real-World Examples
“Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s is currently an incurable disease, but there are treatments available that can slow it down or prevent it from progressing further.” “The Office actress thanks well-wishers for their support after she revealed she had incurable cancer.” Etymology
From Old French incurable, from Late Latin incurabilis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/incurable