inexplicable

/ˌɪn.ɪkˈsplɪ.kə.bl̩/

//ˌɪn.ɪkˈsplɪ.kə.bl̩// adj

"inexplicable" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“inexplicable” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #24,480 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#24,480
frequency rank, English
12
letters
19
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Impossible to explain; not easily accounted for.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

inexplicable vs inexplicably
92% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for inexplicable
PropertyValue
Headwordinexplicable
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˌɪn.ɪkˈsplɪ.kə.bl̩/
Letters12
Frequency rank#24,480
Misspellings tracked19
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “inexplicable” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). inexplicable lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for inexplicable is 12 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌɪn.ɪkˈsplɪ.kə.bl̩/. Corpus data places it at rank #24,480 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "Impossible to explain; not easily accounted for.".

Our generated misspelling index lists 19 likely wrong-spelling variants for inexplicable, with forms such as "ienxplicable", "inepxlicable", and "inexlpicable". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "inexplicably", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English inexplicable, from Middle French inexplicable, from Latin inexplicābilis, from in- (“not”) + explicābilis (“explicable”). By surface analysis, in- + explicable. The correct English form is inexplicable, spelled I-N-E-X-P-L-I-C-A-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Impossible to explain; not easily accounted for.

Etymology

From Middle English inexplicable, from Middle French inexplicable, from Latin inexplicābilis, from in- (“not”) + explicābilis (“explicable”). By surface analysis, in- + explicable.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ienxplicable,inepxlicable,inexlpicable,inexpilcable,inexplciable,inexpliacble,inexplicabble,inexplicabel,inexplicablle,inexplicalbe,inexplicbale,inexpliccable,inexplicible,inexpllicable,inexpplicable,inexxplicable,innexplicable,inxeplicable,niexplicable

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of inexplicable - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ienxplicable2inepxlicable2inexlpicable2inexpilcable2inexplciable2inexpliacble2inexplicabble1inexplicabel2
Edit distance from "inexplicable"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "inexplicable"?
"inexplicable" is spelled I-N-E-X-P-L-I-C-A-B-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌɪn.ɪkˈsplɪ.kə.bl̩/.
What does "inexplicable" mean?
As an adjective, "inexplicable" means: Impossible to explain; not easily accounted for.
What words are commonly confused with "inexplicable"?
"inexplicable" is commonly confused with "inexplicably". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "inexplicable"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "inexplicable" is /ˌɪn.ɪkˈsplɪ.kə.bl̩/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "inexplicable"?
From Middle English inexplicable, from Middle French inexplicable, from Latin inexplicābilis, from in- (“not”) + explicābilis (“explicable”). By surface analysis, in- + explicable. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “inexplicable”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is I-N-E-X-P-L-I-C-A-B-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌɪn.ɪkˈsplɪ.kə.bl̩/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “inexplicably” - see the side-by-side comparison. inexplicable vs inexplicably
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list