infallible
gb/ɪnfˈæləbəl/ us/ɪnfˈæləbəl/
C1
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
never making mistakes
If someone is infallible, they are always right.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is infallible
Erreur fréquente :
Do not confuse with inevitable (certain to happen) or invincible (cannot be defeated).
Synonymes
unerring (More literary; emphasizes not making mistakes.)
|
always right (More informal and straightforward.)
Antonymes
fallible (Capable of making mistakes.)
|
mistaken (Wrong in a particular case.)
Collocations
seem infallible
|claim to be infallible
|think you are infallible
|consider [someone] infallible
|an infallible judge
|an infallible authority
|infallible logic
|infallible memory
|infallible instinct
|an infallible expert
Thèmes
communication
|opinions
|people
Exemples
- She’s brilliant, but she isn’t infallible.
- He spoke as if his judgment were infallible.
- No human being is infallible, so we double-check our work.
Exemples pédagogiques
- My teacher is not infallible.
- I am not infallible, so I check my answers.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
certain to work every time
If something is infallible, it always works and never fails.
Schéma d’usage :
an infallible [method/way/test/sign]
Erreur fréquente :
In everyday English this is often an exaggeration; speakers may mean “very reliable,” not literally perfect.
Synonymes
foolproof (Emphasizes that it is hard for people to use incorrectly.)
|
reliable (Weaker; means it usually works well, not perfectly.)
Antonymes
unreliable (Not dependable; may fail.)
|
fallible (Capable of error or failure.)
Collocations
an infallible method
|an infallible way
|an infallible test
|an infallible sign
|an infallible indicator
|an infallible cure
|an infallible system
|an infallible recipe
|infallible means
|an infallible solution
Thèmes
daily_life
|problem_solving
|products
Exemples
- There’s no infallible way to predict the stock market.
- A smile isn’t an infallible sign that someone is happy.
- The app is helpful, but it’s not infallible.
Exemples pédagogiques
- This test is not infallible.
- There is no infallible method.
adjective
formal
C2
property
3
religiously incapable of doctrinal error
In religion, infallible can mean “cannot be wrong about official beliefs.”
Schéma d’usage :
[religious authority/text] is infallible
Erreur fréquente :
This sense is specialized; in general conversation, infallible usually just means “always right.”
Synonymes
authoritative (Not the same; means trusted or official, not necessarily incapable of error.)
Antonymes
fallible (Capable of error, including in teaching or judgment.)
Collocations
an infallible pope
|an infallible authority
|an infallible church
|an infallible scripture
|infallible teaching
|infallible doctrine
Thèmes
religion
|history
|politics
Exemples
- Some believers treat the text as infallible.
- The debate centered on whether any human institution can be infallible.
- They rejected the idea of an infallible religious authority.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
infallible
API
GB/ɪnfˈæləbəl/
US/ɪnfˈæləbəl/
Syllabes et accentuation
in - fal - lible (3 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fal)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: infallible
Famille de mots
Core family
infallibility
noun C1
infallibly
adverb C1
Negative and opposite forms
fallible
adjective
fallibility
noun
Advanced or less common
fallacy
noun B2
fallacious
adjective
Expressions
no one is infallible.
1/nˈoʊ wˈʌn ˈɪz ɪnfˈæləbəl ‖/
fixed phrase
everyone can make mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.
Exemples
- I made a mistake, but no one is infallible.
- Try not to be too harsh—no one is infallible.
- He apologized and reminded the team that no one is infallible.
treat [someone] as infallible
1/tɹˈit sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈæz ɪnfˈæləbəl/
fixed phrase
assume someone is always right
To act like someone is always right.
Exemples
- Don’t treat celebrities as infallible just because they’re famous.
- She treated her manager as infallible and never challenged bad decisions.
- The article warns against treating any leader as infallible.