it defies explanation

USAGE SUMMARY

"it defies explanation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that a situation or event is unexplainable or inexplicable. For example: The rapid growth of our city's population this year defies explanation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

This process of droplet aggregation sometimes happens so quickly that it defies explanation.

MIT Technology Review

"When people say you need Xpercentt of preretirement income, it defies explanation," he continued.

The New York Times

It defies explanation, really, but those imperfections reinforced the Yankees' mantra, that Lee, talented as he is, is not invincible.

The New York Times - Sports

The philosopher David Chalmers has called the very existence of subjective experience the "hard problem". It is hard because it defies explanation in terms of mechanisms.

HuffPost

It defies explanation for any government to react to new details about systemic advantages for the rich and powerful by cutting taxes on the rich and powerful.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

That it came from a boy of seventeen essentially defies explanation.

The New Yorker

On the face of it, this is a sequence of results that defies explanation.

The Guardian - Sport

The whole thing defies explanation; I frequently find myself attempting to rationalise it, to find sense and reason in it, but I cannot.

The Guardian - Opinion

"For a public agency to hold on to that money with the thought that it may be used at some point for some project defies explanation".

The New York Times

Historically, the outbreak of perfect games defies explanation.

The New York Times

A 20-minute, 1,000-point drop that defies explanation.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it defies explanation" when you want to emphasize that something is genuinely perplexing and lacks a clear or logical reason. Avoid using it for situations where an explanation might be possible with further investigation.

Common error

Avoid using "it defies explanation" when a simpler phrase like "it's unclear" or "it's unknown" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily dramatic or convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it defies explanation" functions as an evaluative statement, asserting that a particular subject or situation is beyond the realm of understandable reasoning. This emphasizes the perplexing nature of the subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it defies explanation" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to indicate that something is unexplainable or incomprehensible. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its usage is relatively rare. It is commonly found in News & Media, Academic and Scientific contexts. Consider alternatives like "it's inexplicable" or "it's unfathomable" depending on the specific nuance you intend to convey. Avoid overuse, as simpler expressions might suffice in many cases, keeping your writing clear and direct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's inexplicable

Offers a more concise way of saying something cannot be explained.

it's beyond comprehension

Replaces "defies explanation" with a stronger emphasis on the inability to understand something.

it's beyond understanding

Similar to "beyond comprehension" but uses 'understanding' instead.

it's incomprehensible

Similar to "beyond comprehension" and "beyond understanding".

it's unfathomable

Implies the situation is too profound or complex to grasp.

it's a mystery

Suggests the situation is unknown and possibly unsolvable.

it's baffling

Highlights the confusing and perplexing nature of the situation.

it's puzzling

Indicates that the situation is confusing and hard to figure out.

it's inscrutable

Implies something is difficult to interpret or understand because it's deliberately hidden.

it's enigmatic

Suggests something is mysterious and difficult to interpret.

FAQs

What does "it defies explanation" mean?

It means that something is so strange, unusual, or complex that it cannot be explained or understood using logic or reason. It suggests a situation that is perplexing and seemingly without cause or precedent.

When is it appropriate to use "it defies explanation" in writing?

Use it when you genuinely encounter a situation or phenomenon that lacks a clear explanation and seems resistant to rational analysis. It's suitable for describing events that are mysterious, paradoxical, or seemingly impossible.

Are there any alternatives to "it defies explanation"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "it's inexplicable", "it's unfathomable", or "it's beyond comprehension" to convey a similar meaning, depending on the specific nuance you want to express.

Is "it defies explanation" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The pronoun "it" correctly refers to a subject, "defies" is the third-person singular present tense of the verb "defy", and "explanation" is a noun that serves as the object of the verb.