English Reference
Adjective

unmistakable

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌənmɪˈsteɪkəbəɫ/ UK /ʌnmɪstˈeɪkəbəl/ un·mis·tak·able

adj.very easy to recognize because it is unique or clear. You use this when there is no doubt about what something is.

adj.impossible to mistake for anything else; clearly distinctive and easily identified. Often used to describe sensory qualities like sounds, smells, or visual styles.


SIMPLE

The smell of fresh coffee is unmistakable.

CONTEXTUAL

Even from a distance, her unmistakable laugh echoed through the crowded hallway.

COMPLEX

The artist's latest work bears his unmistakable signature style, characterized by bold geometric shapes and a muted, earthy color palette.

Usage

Typically used as a predicative adjective after linking verbs or as an attributive adjective before the noun it modifies.

There’s a thrum of excitement in the air as an eight-minute countdown starts and Ariana Grande’s unmistakable silhouette appears on a giant backlit curtain on the stage of the O2.

The Guardian· 16 Aug 2026

And if nothing else, it was a case of game recognizing game: one unmistakable American original saluting another.

The Guardian· 26 Aug 2026

From un- + mistake + -able.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated