inaudible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "inaudible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that cannot be heard, often in contexts related to sound or audio quality. Example: "The speaker's voice was so low that it was nearly inaudible to the audience in the back row."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unfortunately the question are inaudible, so this is like watching Jeopardy in that we have to guess what the question is from his answers.

The Guardian

Guardian Australia recorded them all, but the official transcript says these 23 were "inaudible".

The Guardian

The protesters, numbering between 200 and 400 according to estimates, rendered the winner's announcement almost inaudible with their chants.

The Guardian

The Rite of Spring has survived many trials in its first 100 years, not excluding the notorious premiere, during which Nijinsky's provocative choreography elicited such a volume of abuse that the music itself was frequently inaudible.

The Guardian - Music

Part of the conversation is inaudible, but he was then recorded saying: "But it should never have been that close.

The Guardian

But when the Brandenburg Consort, for example, using authentic instruments, accompanied the BBC Singers in choral works by Purcell and Handel, many details of phrasing were virtually inaudible.

The Economist

Visiting American students are often startled to attend lectures with no visual aids, out-of-date hand-outs and droning, inaudible speakers.

The Economist

Mood Media is experimenting with an inaudible "digital tag", attached to in-store soundtracks, which activates an app on shoppers' phones.

The Economist

They have been catching and tagging dogfish in Lough Hyne, an inlet in County Cork, Ireland, where they abound.The tags (which emit an inaudible sound) showed that female dogfish but never males hide in groups in small underwater caves during the daytime.

The Economist

Soon, an inaudible symphony will be playing at a hospital near you.

The Economist

He is so soft-spoken that a common joke at meetings is to ask for mobile phones to be put on "Manmohan Singh mode"—which is to say, rendered inaudible.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing audio recordings or live speech, use "inaudible" to denote sections where the audio is impossible to hear clearly. For instance, 'Parts of the recording were "inaudible" due to background noise'.

Common error

Avoid using "inaudible" when you mean "unintelligible". "Inaudible" refers to the inability to hear something at all, while "unintelligible" means the sound is present but cannot be understood. For example, a whisper might be "inaudible", while fast or garbled speech might be intelligible.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "inaudible" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that cannot be heard or is not loud enough to be heard. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples where "inaudible" describes sounds, speech, or recordings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "inaudible" is a versatile adjective used to describe something that cannot be heard. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, from news and media to scientific and encyclopedic sources. It's crucial to differentiate "inaudible" from "unintelligible"; the former means the sound is absent, while the latter implies the sound is present but incomprehensible. The term is commonly found in news reporting, academic writing, and general descriptions where sound quality is a factor. When writing, ensure "inaudible" accurately conveys the absence of sound, enhancing clarity and precision. Always remember to use "inaudible" when you mean a total lack of sound, avoiding confusion with similar terms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unhearable

This alternative emphasizes the inability to hear something due to its nature or circumstances.

faintly audible

This phrase suggests that the sound is barely perceptible, close to being inaudible but still detectable.

scarcely audible

Similar to 'faintly audible', this highlights the difficulty in hearing the sound because it's very weak.

imperceptible sound

This alternative focuses on the sound being so subtle that it's almost impossible to detect.

beyond hearing

Indicates that the sound is outside the range of what can be heard, whether due to frequency or other factors.

mute

Describes a complete absence of sound, aligning with one aspect of inaudibility.

noiseless

Similar to 'mute', focusing on the lack of any noise being produced.

silent

Denotes an absence of sound, synonymous with a state where something would be inaudible.

soundless

Highlights the lack of any sound production, leading to inaudibility.

hushed

Suggests a state of quietness where sounds are suppressed, potentially rendering some noises inaudible.

FAQs

What does "inaudible" mean?

The word "inaudible" means unable to be heard or not loud enough to be heard. It describes a sound that is imperceptible to the ear.

How can I use "inaudible" in a sentence?

You can use "inaudible" to describe sounds that are too quiet to hear, like "The speaker's voice was almost "inaudible" at the back of the room" or "The high-frequency sound was "inaudible" to humans".

What are some synonyms for "inaudible"?

Some synonyms for "inaudible" include "unhearable", "silent", and "noiseless". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "inaudible" and "unintelligible"?

"Inaudible" means a sound cannot be heard at all, while "unintelligible" means a sound can be heard but is impossible to understand. For example, a very faint whisper might be "inaudible", while someone speaking a foreign language could be "unintelligible".