illegible

/ɪˈledʒəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈledʒəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)i(l)-ˈle-jə-bəl/ (ame, mw)

illegible — adjective

  • illegiblepositive
  • more illegiblecomparative
  • most illegiblesuperlative

1. Describes handwriting, printing, or a marked symbol that is so messy, faded, or

1.形容詞C1
釋義

Describes handwriting, printing, or a marked symbol that is so messy, faded, or unclear that a reader cannot make out what the letters or words actually say.

例句

Nala's doctor wrote the prescription so quickly that the pharmacist found the dosage almost illegible.

predicative: find + object + illegible

Rain had soaked the cardboard sign at the market, leaving the price tag completely illegible by noon.

after a cause clause: leaving + object + illegible

同義詞
  • unreadable

    very close synonym; slightly more general — can also describe boring or confusing content, not just visually unclear marks

  • indecipherable

    stronger; suggests impossible to work out even with effort, often used of codes or very damaged text

  • unintelligible

    broader: covers both written and spoken material that cannot be understood

反義詞
  • legible

    direct opposite — clearly readable

  • clear

    general term for writing that is easy to read and understand

用法筆記

Almost always describes written or printed text (handwriting, signatures, signs, tombstones, faded documents). Subject is the text or marking itself, not the writer. Frequently appears as a predicative complement after 'be', 'become', or 'find [X] illegible'.

常見錯誤

❌My handwriting is illiterate.
✅My handwriting is illegible.
💡'illiterate' describes a person who cannot read; 'illegible' describes writing that cannot be read.
❌The speaker was illegible because of the noise.
✅The speaker was inaudible because of the noise.
💡'illegible' is only for visual text, not sound.