Standard Lemma guide

unobtainable

adj · noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: AH2 N AH0 B T EY1 N AH0 B AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Unable to be obtained: not able to be acquired or reached.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unattainable, ungettable, unprocurable

Antonyms: see at obtainable

2

noun

Meaning 2

Someone or something that cannot be obtained.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

not capable of being obtained

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a rare work, today almost inaccessible
  • timber is virtually unobtainable in the islands
  • untouchable resources buried deep within the earth

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inaccessible, unprocurable, untouchable

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English obtain Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dhlom Proto-Indo-European *-dhlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English obtainable English unobtainable From un- + obtainable.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: nedostupný — not able to be acquired or reached
  • Danish: utilgængelig — not able to be acquired or reached
  • Esperanto: neakirebla — not able to be acquired or reached
  • Finnish: saavuttamaton — not able to be acquired or reached
  • French: introuvable — not able to be acquired or reached
  • German: unerhältlich — not able to be acquired or reached
  • Icelandic: ófáanlegur — not able to be acquired or reached
  • Italian: introvabile — not able to be acquired or reached
  • Polish: niedostępny — not able to be acquired or reached
  • Polish: nieosiągalny — not able to be acquired or reached
  • Russian: недостижи́мый (nedostižímyj) — not able to be acquired or reached
  • Russian: недосту́пный (nedostúpnyj) — not able to be acquired or reached
  • Swedish: otillgänglig — not able to be acquired or reached