Etymologically
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unbelievable

Etymology and origin of the English word unbelievable

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1548
Ultimate origin
English (un-,believable)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbl̩/, /bi-/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English un- + believable.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

That cannot be believed; incredible: 1548 in the OED and MWU, the 1540s in Etymonline.[4][3][2]

Semantic evolution

Unbelievably is from 1839.[4] Unbelieved is from about 1600, not believed, but earlier, about 1200, the same word meant lacking faith.[2] As a word of strong approval, astonishing, it is informal.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 1200 – unbelieved, lacking faith.[2]
  • 1548 – unbelievable.[4]
  • 1839 – unbelievably.[4]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Impossible to believe; incredible.
  2. (informal) Astonishing, or extremely good.

Word family

  • unbelievably

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b 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

“Unbelievable.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/unbelievable. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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