unobservable

USAGE SUMMARY

'unobservable' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that cannot be seen, heard, felt, or otherwise detected by normal means. For example: "The symptoms of that rare disease are largely unobservable, so it can be difficult to diagnose."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Churchland concludes that the distinction between things that are unobserved but observable, and things that are unobservable, "is only very feebly principled and is wholly inadequate to bear the great weight that van Fraassen puts on it" (Churchland 1985, 40).

SEP

A heavy neutrino has yet to be observed, and may well, as Pauli described it, be unobservable.

The Economist

Morgan Stanley calculates that rates would have to go up by more than two percentage points to raise the ratio of mortgage payments to income above the long-term average.Such calculations are all very well, but the unobservable variable is confidence.

The Economist

They are not seeking truth or elegance, just a way of capturing the behaviour of a market and of linking an unobservable or illiquid price to prices in traded markets.

The Economist

First, they assume that all 20 countries are hit by common but unobservable shocks.

The Economist

But since future products, and their related prices, are unobservable, those calculations are tricky.

The Economist

This resets the days on market counter and removes the stigma attached to a slow-selling house, a practice similar to resetting the odometer of a used car...The issue with resetting the odometer is that extra miles driven generate wear and tear on the engine, which may actually be unobservable to a potential buyer.

The Economist

Wealth is unobservable so visible expensive goods acts as a signal you have achieved status to your peers.White Americans, on average, have more income and Messrs Hurst, Charles, and Roussanov found visible spending is less common in richer communities.

The Economist

As ever, the academics are at pains to point out that these variables are not causative, but simply proxies for the unobservable characteristics of startups.

The Economist

Human nature is an unobservable.

SEP

Maxwell wanted to make scientific realism compatible with "concept empiricism" about the meaning of theoretical terms, and he also wanted to explain how we can have epistemic access to unobservable entities.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "unobservable" when "unobserved" is more appropriate. "Unobservable" implies an inherent inability to be observed, while "unobserved" simply means it hasn't been observed yet.

Common error

Don't use "unobservable" when you mean "unobserved". Something "unobservable" cannot be observed due to its nature or limitations in technology, while something "unobserved" simply hasn't been observed yet. For instance, say 'the particle remains unobserved' (if it hasn't been seen), not 'the particle remains unobservable' (unless it's inherently impossible to see).

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unobservable" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that cannot be observed, often due to inherent limitations or technological constraints. Ludwig provides many examples of it's proper usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "unobservable" functions as an adjective, primarily within formal and scientific contexts, to denote something that cannot be observed due to inherent limitations or technological constraints. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and widespread usage across diverse domains like science, news, and formal writing. While similar to terms like "undetectable" and "imperceptible", "unobservable" carries a specific connotation of impossibility in principle or with current technology. A key point to remember is not to confuse "unobservable" with "unobserved"; the former implies a fundamental inability to observe, while the latter simply means something hasn't been seen yet. Employ it carefully in scientific discussions to precisely articulate the boundaries of observation and detection.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undetectable

Focuses on the inability to detect something, often due to technological limitations.

imperceptible

Highlights that something is too subtle or gradual to be noticed.

invisible

Specifically refers to something that cannot be seen.

unseen

Emphasizes that something is not seen, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

beyond detection

Indicates something is outside the limits of what can be detected.

unnoticeable

Suggests that something does not attract attention or is easily overlooked.

hidden from view

Implies that something is deliberately concealed or naturally obscured.

outside the realm of observation

More formal and scientific, indicating something is not accessible to observation.

not amenable to observation

Highlights the unsuitability for observation, often due to inherent properties.

incognizable

Indicates something beyond the possibility of being known or understood.

FAQs

How can I use "unobservable" in a sentence?

Use "unobservable" to describe something that cannot be detected or observed. For example, "The effects of dark matter are "unobservable" directly, but its gravitational influence can be measured."

What's the difference between "unobservable" and "unobserved"?

"Unobservable" means something is inherently impossible to observe, while "unobserved" simply means it hasn't been observed yet. The distinction lies in possibility versus actuality.

What are some alternatives to "unobservable"?

Depending on the context, you could use words like "undetectable", "imperceptible", or "invisible" as alternatives to "unobservable".

Is it correct to say something is 'partially unobservable'?

Yes, if some aspects or characteristics of something are observable while others are not, you can describe it as 'partially unobservable'. For example, 'the internal workings of the system are partially "unobservable" without specialized tools'.