unmeasurable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "unmeasurable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is too big, too small, or too complex to be able to measure. For example, "The amount of knowledge and experience the professor has is unmeasurable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now, it's leading to brand-new consumer products, many of whose  benefits are unmeasured or unmeasurable.

The Economist

How often discrimination occurs is unmeasured and perhaps unmeasurable, Dr. Williams said.

The New York Times

Companies like to say that they aim for the third approach, but they do not always find it easy.In the end, though, do knowledge workers not always contribute something that is unmeasurable?

The Economist

The longer-term danger, which is no less acute for being unmeasurable, is that the young financier from Madrid, Manhattan or Mumbai will decide not to come to London in the first place.As a means of bringing in revenue, the 50% rate was never very efficient.

The Economist

Love, hate, envy, greed these remain the strongest motives for murder.Fortunately for the crime writer, these elements are as yet unmeasurable by science, and the globalisation of crime provides new opportunities to put the detective into unfamiliar settings where techno-gadgetry becomes useless and understanding of different cultural mores and motive is key.

The Economist

At one level, sort of; at another level, if you think value is purely subjective and unmeasurable, then you shouldn't be reading a publication called "The Economist").Anyway.Anyway

The Economist

But that is virtually unmeasurable, and would anyway lead simply to artificially "good" behaviour in the run-up to an assessment of trading relations, as has always happened in recent years when the vote on China's "most-favoured nation" trading status was approaching.

The Economist

Frank Knight gave his name to "Knightian uncertainty" thanks to his 1921 book, "Risk, Uncertainty and Profit", which noted that most business decisions involve a step into an unknown that is to some degree unmeasurable.

The Economist

Mr Davies, the co-founder of New Philanthropy Capital, concedes that measurement is difficult, but insists it is not impossible: "Some of these things from an economic point of view are unmeasurable, but no more so than measuring GDP in the service sector, which we do, though it is very hard".The second requirement is greater transparency.

The Economist

Is value itself "purely subjective", unmeasurable and thus not worth talking about?

The Economist

Indeed, its future need for equity capital is unmeasurable.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unmeasurable" when you want to emphasize the inability to obtain a precise quantitative value. Consider if a qualitative assessment might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "unmeasurable" when the challenge is complexity rather than an absolute impossibility of measurement. In cases where some quantification is possible, "difficult to measure" might be more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "unmeasurable" primarily functions to qualify nouns by expressing the impossibility of quantifying them. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples demonstrating its use in describing phenomena defying precise measurement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unmeasurable" is an adjective used to describe something that cannot be measured, often due to its abstract nature or complexity. According to Ludwig, this term is grammatically correct and frequently used, especially in news and media contexts. While "unmeasurable" and "immeasurable" are often interchangeable, subtle distinctions exist: "unmeasurable" emphasizes impossibility, while "immeasurable" focuses on vastness. When writing, consider whether "difficult to measure" might be more accurate if some degree of quantification is possible. By using "unmeasurable" judiciously, writers can effectively convey the limits of quantification and the significance of qualitative assessments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immeasurable

Direct synonym, differing only in prefix. Means exactly the same.

impossible to measure

Rephrases using simpler vocabulary. Slightly more verbose.

beyond measure

More figurative, emphasizing the extreme degree.

incalculable

Focuses on the inability to calculate, a specific type of measurement.

cannot be quantified

Emphasizes the lack of quantifiable data.

difficult to assess

Shifts the focus from strict measurement to general assessment.

hard to gauge

Suggests difficulty in estimating or judging something.

beyond comprehension

Extends the concept to something not easily understood.

limitless

Emphasizes the lack of bounds, often implying a vast quantity or degree.

vast

Suggests a large quantity or extent, though not necessarily unmeasurable.

FAQs

How can I use "unmeasurable" in a sentence?

You can use "unmeasurable" to describe something that cannot be precisely quantified or assessed, such as "The impact of his work is "unmeasurable"".

What's the difference between "immeasurable" and "unmeasurable"?

"Immeasurable" and "unmeasurable" are often used interchangeably, but "unmeasurable" emphasizes the impossibility of measuring, while "immeasurable" highlights the vastness or extent that makes measurement impractical.

What are some alternatives to using "unmeasurable"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "impossible to measure", "beyond measure", or "difficult to assess" instead of "unmeasurable".

In what situations is it appropriate to use the word "unmeasurable"?

It is appropriate to use "unmeasurable" when referring to abstract concepts, emotional impacts, or phenomena where standard units of measurement are not applicable or feasible, like "the "unmeasurable harm" caused by the scandal".