infallibly
gb/ɪnfəlɪbli/ us/ɪnfəlɪbli/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
formal
C1
relation
1
without fail; always happens
always; in a way that is certain to happen
Usage pattern:
infallibly + [verb] / [something] infallibly + leads to [result]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use it like 'probably'. It means something is certain, not just likely.
Synonyms
inevitably (Emphasizes that something cannot be avoided.)
|
invariably (Emphasizes that it happens every time.)
|
unfailingly (Emphasizes that it never fails, often about behavior.)
Antonyms
sometimes (Suggests it does not happen every time.)
|
unreliably (Suggests it cannot be counted on to happen.)
Collocations
infallibly leads to
|infallibly results in
|infallibly produces
|infallibly brings
|infallibly causes
|infallibly triggers
|infallibly creates
|infallibly predictable
|infallibly followed by
|almost infallibly
Themes
certainty
|time
|cause_and_effect
Examples
- If I mention politics at dinner, it infallibly starts an argument.
- Skipping breakfast infallibly leaves me hungry by mid-morning.
- Her jokes infallibly cheer up the room.
Learner examples
- This plan will infallibly fail if we do nothing.
- Rain infallibly makes the roads slippery.
adverb
formal
C2
property
2
without error; perfectly correctly
perfectly correctly; with no mistakes
Usage pattern:
infallibly + [verb] (e.g., identify, diagnose, predict)
Common mistake:
Do not use it for ordinary accuracy unless you mean 'cannot be wrong' (a very strong claim).
Synonyms
unerringly (Stresses not missing the correct choice or target.)
|
flawlessly (Stresses no mistakes in performance, not necessarily absolute certainty.)
|
perfectly (Common and broad; may be less absolute than 'infallibly'.)
Antonyms
erroneously (In a way that contains an error.)
|
imperfectly (In a way that has flaws or mistakes.)
Collocations
infallibly accurate
|infallibly correct
|infallibly right
|infallibly identifies
|infallibly detects
|infallibly diagnoses
|infallibly predicts
|infallibly recognizes
|infallibly reliable
|infallibly true
Themes
accuracy
|judgment
|communication
Examples
- No test can infallibly predict who will develop the disease.
- He believed his instincts guided him infallibly in business.
- The witness did not infallibly recognize the suspect in the photo.
Learner examples
- A human cannot answer infallibly every time.
Grammar
Dictionary form
infallibly
IPA
GB/ɪnfəlɪbli/
US/ɪnfəlɪbli/
Syllables & stress
in - fal - libly (3 syllables)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: infallibly
- Plural: infalliblies
Word family
Forms
infalliblies
noun
Core family
infallible
adjective C1
infallibility
noun C1
Related words
fallible
adjective
fallibility
noun
Advanced or less common
fallibly
adverb
Expressions
infallibly accurate
1/ɪnfəlɪbli ˈækjɚɪt/
fixed phrase
formal
perfectly correct every time
100% correct; never wrong
Examples
- The device is marketed as infallibly accurate, but independent tests disagree.
- Memory is not infallibly accurate, especially after many years.
infallibly leads to
1/ɪnfəlɪbli lˈidz tə/
fixed phrase
formal
certainly causes a result
always causes
Examples
- Rushing the job infallibly leads to mistakes.
- Not charging your phone overnight infallibly leads to a dead battery by noon.
infallibly right
1/ɪnfəlɪbli ɹˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
formal
cannot be wrong
always correct; never wrong
Examples
- He spoke as if he were infallibly right about every topic.
- No critic is infallibly right, but some are consistently insightful.