Word
unmistakable
Phoneticsun·mis·tak·able
US/ˌənmɪˈsteɪkəbəɫ/
UK/ʌnmɪstˈeɪkəbəl/
Definition
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.
Examples
“The smell of fresh coffee is unmistakable.”
“Even from a distance, her unmistakable laugh echoed through the crowded hallway.”
“The artist's latest work bears his unmistakable signature style, characterized by bold geometric shapes and a muted, earthy color palette.”
Examples
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.
Real-World Examples
“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.” “And if nothing else, it was a case of game recognizing game: one unmistakable American original saluting another.” Etymology
From un- + mistake + -able.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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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