Word
inedible
Phoneticsined·i·ble
US/ˌɪˈnɛdəbəɫ/
UK/ɪnˈɛdəbəl/
Definition
adj. not safe or good to eat. You use it for food that is spoiled, poisonous, or too hard to chew.
adj. unsuitable for eating because spoiled, poisonous, or too hard to chew and digest. Often contrasted with edible.
Examples
“This old bread is dry and inedible.”
“He left the potatoes in the oven too long and they turned black and inedible.”
“After weeks without rain, the garden's berries shrivelled into small, bitter lumps that even the birds left untouched as inedible.”
Examples
simple
“This old bread is dry and inedible.”
contextual
“He left the potatoes in the oven too long and they turned black and inedible.”
complex
“After weeks without rain, the garden's berries shrivelled into small, bitter lumps that even the birds left untouched as inedible.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “inedible” in context.
Verb
01. become inedible
“Bread becomes inedible quickly in damp weather.”
verb + adj
02. find inedible
“Most guests found the tough meat inedible.”
verb + adj
03. make inedible
“Too much salt will make the soup inedible.”
verb + adj
Adjective
04. almost inedible
“The burnt rice was bitter and almost inedible.”
adv + adj
05. completely inedible
“The overcooked steak was dry and completely inedible.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. inedible food
“They had to throw away piles of inedible food.”
adj + noun
07. inedible meat
“The old meat was tough and inedible, so we threw it out.”
adj + noun
08. inedible mushroom
“This is an inedible mushroom, so do not pick it.”
adj + noun
09. inedible plant
“The guide pointed out an inedible plant by the trail.”
adj + noun
10. become inedible after thawing
“Frozen fish can become inedible after thawing twice.”
11. found the food inedible
“We found the food inedible and ordered something else.”
12. looks edible but is inedible
“This wild berry looks edible but is inedible.”
Real-World Examples
“However, this year, the horse chestnut trees in Britain, which produce the glossy inedible nuts traditionally used for conker games, are not yielding their typical harvest.” Etymology
From in- + edible.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Antonyms
Word family
ADJECTIVE
- 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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