Standard Lemma guide

unsinkable

adj · noun · 4 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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  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 N S IH1 NG K AH0 B AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

That cannot be sunk.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sinkproof

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

That cannot be overcome or defeated.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • unsinkable optimism

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A ship that was designed to be unsinkable.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective

Meaning 4

incapable of being sunk

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they thought the Titanic was unsinkable

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: sinkable

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 sink 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 unsinkable From un- + sink + -able.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: uppoamaton — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
  • French: insubmersible — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
  • German: unsinkbar — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
  • Greek: αβύθιστος (avýthistos) — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
  • Greek: ακαταβύθιστος (akatavýthistos) — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
  • Hungarian: elsüllyeszthetetlen — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
  • Irish: dobháite — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
  • Japanese: 不沈 (fuchin) — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
  • Latin: immersābilis — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
  • Manx: do-vaiht — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
  • Manx: do-vaih — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
  • Polish: niezatapialny — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
  • Russian: непотопля́емый (nepotopljájemyj) — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
  • Swedish: osänkbar — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
  • Ukrainian: непотоплюваний (nepotopljuvanyj) — of a ship: that cannot be sunk
Real reading context

unsinkable in complete knowledge articles