unmentionable
/ʌnˈmenʃənəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ʌnˈmenʃənəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-ˈmen(t)-sh(ə-)nə-bəl/ (ame, mw)
unmentionable — adjective
- unmentionablepositive
- more unmentionablecomparative
- most unmentionablesuperlative
1. too shocking, embarrassing, or offensive to be spoken about openly, especially b
too shocking, embarrassing, or offensive to be spoken about openly, especially because it would break the rules of polite behaviour or social convention
During the formal dinner, Stefan avoided any unmentionable topics like politics or religion.
attributive: unmentionable + [topic/subject/noun]
The family kept their financial troubles as an unmentionable secret for many years.
collocation: unmentionable secret
In those days, divorce was considered an unmentionable subject in polite society.
Amira found that her illness was treated as an unmentionable problem at work.
Some historical events remain unmentionable in certain regions even today.
- taboo
broader; describes any subject forbidden by social or religious custom, not necessarily shocking
- unspeakable
stronger; suggests extreme horror rather than social embarrassment
- forbidden
broader; can refer to any prohibited thing, not just topics of conversation
- mentionable
rare; describes something acceptable to discuss openly
文法句型
unmentionable + noun
用法筆記
Commonly used attributively before nouns such as 'subject', 'topic', 'secret', 'issue', or 'problem'. Rarely used in comparative or superlative forms.
常見錯誤
unmentionable — noun
1. a subject, event, or personal matter that people avoid discussing openly because
a subject, event, or personal matter that people avoid discussing openly because it is too shocking, embarrassing, or private
The scandal became the great unmentionable of the election season.
determiner: the + [adj] + unmentionable
In their village, the old land dispute was an unmentionable that nobody dared raise.
Rohan treated his past as an unmentionable, never speaking of it to anyone.
Mental illness was once an unmentionable in many communities around the world.
- taboo
a more general term for any forbidden or prohibited thing
- forbidden topic
a clearer, more modern alternative; less literary
文法句型
the + unmentionable
an + unmentionable
用法筆記
This sense functions as a singular countable noun. It is less common than the plural noun senses below. Often preceded by 'the' or 'an'.
2. a humorous or old-fashioned word for trousers or pants, used when the speaker pr
a humorous or old-fashioned word for trousers or pants, used when the speaker prefers a less direct or more delicate term
The Victorian gentleman referred to his trousers as his unmentionables in front of ladies.
possessive: his + unmentionables (plural form)
Defne found an old letter where her great-grandmother called pants unmentionables.
In nineteenth-century novels, characters often blush at the very word unmentionables.
Hui read an old play where a maid refused to say unmentionables aloud.
文法句型
plural: unmentionables
用法筆記
Always used in the plural form 'unmentionables'. This meaning is now very rare and mostly appears in historical fiction or discussions of Victorian-era language. The term arose in the 1830s as a polite alternative to 'trousers'.
常見錯誤
3. a light-hearted or slightly old-fashioned word for underwear, that is clothing w
a light-hearted or slightly old-fashioned word for underwear, that is clothing worn next to the skin beneath outer garments
Beatriz packed her unmentionables in a small bag for the weekend trip.
possessive: her + unmentionables (plural, humorous register)
The laundry basket was full of socks, shirts, and other unmentionables.
The children burst out laughing when the shop advertisement mentioned unmentionables.
Eli bought new unmentionables at the market before the long journey began.
- underwear
neutral, modern term; no humorous or dated tone
- undergarments
slightly more formal but still neutral
- undies
informal; similarly light-hearted but more common
文法句型
plural: unmentionables
用法筆記
Always appears in the plural form 'unmentionables'. Of the two clothing senses, this is by far the more common one in modern usage. Still carries a deliberately old-fashioned or playful tone.