Word
unacceptable
Phoneticsun·ac·cept·able
US/ˌənækˈsɛptəbəɫ/
UK/ʌnɐksˈɛptəbəl/
Definitions
01not good enough
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not good enough to be allowed or accepted by others.
adj. failing to meet a required standard or social expectation; deemed intolerable or unsatisfactory.
日本語:ＯＵＴ※
“The long delays at the airport were completely unacceptable to the passengers.”
“The committee found the proposed safety measures to be wholly unacceptable, citing numerous gaps in the emergency evacuation protocols.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02linguistically incorrect
C1 · Advanced Science Academic · Technical
adj. describing a word or sentence that does not follow the rules of a language.
adj. describing a linguistic form that does not conform to the rules of a specific grammar or the norms of a speech community.
“In English, saying 'he go' is considered unacceptable in formal writing.”
“The generative model rejected the string as unacceptable because it violated the core principles of phrase structure within that specific dialect.”
Usage
In linguistics, this is often marked with an asterisk (*) before the sentence.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03something rejected
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Formal
n. a person or thing that is not accepted by a group.
n. an entity, person, or proposal that has been rejected or deemed unsuitable for inclusion.
“The social club was known for its harsh treatment of unacceptables.”
“The archive was divided into two sections: those documents deemed worthy of preservation and the unacceptables destined for the shredder.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “unacceptable” in context.
Verb
01. consider the delay unacceptable
“We consider a three-week delay for a simple repair to be totally unacceptable.”
verb + noun + adj
02. deem the conditions unacceptable
“The inspectors deemed the working conditions unacceptable and ordered the factory to close.”
verb + noun + adj
03. find the behavior unacceptable
“The committee found his aggressive behavior completely unacceptable and suspended him.”
verb + noun + adj
Adjective
04. socially unacceptable
“Smoking in public indoor spaces has become socially unacceptable in many countries.”
adv + adj
05. unacceptable to the public
“The proposed tax increase was deemed unacceptable to the public.”
adj + prep + noun
06. wholly unacceptable
“The lack of safety equipment on the construction site is wholly unacceptable.”
adv + adj
Adverb
07. totally unacceptable
“The level of service we received at the restaurant was totally unacceptable.”
adv + adj
08. morally unacceptable
“Many people believe that testing cosmetic products on animals is morally unacceptable.”
adv + adj
09. unacceptable public
Real-World Examples
“I think the cruelty that I've experienced and the positioning of me as this kind of liar and fantasist is totally unacceptable," he told the Times newspaper , external earlier this month.” “A public inquiry found authorities covered up the scandal and exposed victims to unacceptable risks.” Etymology
From Middle English unacceptabylle, equivalent to un- + acceptable.
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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/unacceptable
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0