Etymologically
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unacceptable

Etymology and origin of the English word unacceptable

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1483
From
Middle English unacceptabylle

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌʌn.ækˈsɛp.tə.bl̩/, /ˌʌn.əkˈsɛp.tə.bl̩/ (UK); /ˌʌn.ækˈsɛp.tə.bl̩/, /ˌʌn.əkˈsɛp.tə.bl̩/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English unacceptabylle, made up of un- and acceptable.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Not welcome, displeasing: 1483 in the OED, the late 15th century in Etymonline.[4][2]

Semantic evolution

The catchphrase the unacceptable face of capitalism is recorded in the OED.[4] Intolerable, as hitting children is unacceptable, is a modern use.[5]

Timeline

  • 1483 – unacceptable.[4]
  • 1648 – unacceptableness.[4]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Not satisfactory; inadequate.
  2. Not to be tolerated; intolerable.

Word family

  • unacceptability
  • unacceptably

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
Cite this entry

“Unacceptable.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/unacceptable. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·