infallibility
gb/ɪnfˌælɪbˈɪlɪti/ us/ɪnfˌælɪbˈɪlɪti/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
property
1
never making mistakes
the quality of always being correct and never making mistakes
Usage pattern:
the infallibility of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Often confused with "invincibility" (cannot be defeated) rather than "being always right".
Synonyms
flawlessness (Emphasizes having no flaws; less about never being wrong.)
|
perfection (Broader and more general; can include appearance or performance.)
|
incapability of error (More explicit and formal paraphrase.)
Antonyms
fallibility (The ability to make mistakes or be wrong.)
Collocations
claim infallibility
|a belief in infallibility
|the illusion of infallibility
|the myth of infallibility
|assume infallibility
|challenge someone's infallibility
|question someone's infallibility
|an aura of infallibility
|project infallibility
|pretensions of infallibility
Themes
communication
|opinions
|work
Examples
- Her calm confidence created an impression of infallibility, even when she was guessing.
- The report warns against treating the model’s output as infallibility.
- He spoke with such certainty that his team began to assume his infallibility.
Learner examples
- No one has infallibility.
- We should not assume infallibility in leaders.
Noun
formal
C2
abstract
2
Catholic doctrine of papal authority
in Catholic teaching, the idea that the Pope can be officially protected from making an error in certain religious statements
Usage pattern:
the doctrine of infallibility
Common mistake:
Learners may think it means the Pope is always right about everything; in this doctrine it applies only in specific formal situations.
Synonyms
papal inerrancy (Occasionally used, but less standard and can sound technical.)
Antonyms
fallibility (Denies the idea of being protected from error.)
Collocations
papal infallibility
|the doctrine of infallibility
|teachings on infallibility
|define infallibility
|debates over infallibility
|the limits of infallibility
|assert infallibility
|reject infallibility
Themes
religion
|catholicism
|beliefs
Examples
- The lecture explained the historical development of infallibility in the Catholic Church.
- Their argument turned on what counts as an official statement for the purposes of infallibility.
- Many people misunderstand infallibility as a claim that a pope can never be wrong in ordinary decisions.
Learner examples
- They discussed infallibility in a religion class.
Grammar
Dictionary form
infallibility
IPA
GB/ɪnfˌælɪbˈɪlɪti/
US/ɪnfˌælɪbˈɪlɪti/
Syllables & stress
in - fal - lib - il - ity (5 syllables)
Stress on 4th syllable (il)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: infallibility
- Plural: infallibility
Word family
Core family
infallible
adjective C1
infallibly
adverb C1
Negative and opposite forms
fallible
adjective
fallibility
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.