invisible
impossible to see with eyes
You cannot see it, even when you look carefully.
[something] is invisible (to [someone] / to the naked eye)
- From the ground, most of the tiny satellites are invisible to the naked eye.
- She used invisible ink to write a secret message on the paper.
- The cable is buried under the floor, so it is completely invisible.
- At night the road markings became almost invisible in the heavy rain.
- Microscopic cracks in the glass were invisible until the window suddenly shattered.
- The stars were invisible because of the thick clouds.
- Germs are invisible, but they can still make you sick.
- The cat hid under the bed and was invisible from the door.
- This wire is so thin that it looks invisible from far away.
- He drew a line so light that it was almost invisible.
not noticed or valued by others
Not getting attention or respect from other people, as if people do not see you or your work.
[someone] feels invisible / [group] is invisible in [place]
- Many cleaners and security staff feel invisible despite keeping the building running smoothly.
- The report shows how the invisible labor of caregivers supports the whole economy.
- For years, women in the company were invisible in senior leadership roles.
- As an immigrant, he often felt invisible in political discussions that affected his life.
- The documentary focuses on the invisible homeless who sleep in cars and temporary shelters.
- She works very hard at home but feels invisible.
- Older people can become invisible in a busy city.
- Low-paid workers are often invisible in big companies.
- He was in the meeting but was almost invisible; no one asked for his ideas.
- Many online jobs are invisible, but people depend on them.
relating to traded services, not goods
Used in economics for money that comes from services, like banking or tourism, not from things you can touch and ship.
invisible [exports/imports/earnings/balance]
- Tourism and banking make up a large share of the country's invisible exports.
- The rise in invisible earnings helped to offset the trade deficit in manufactured goods.
- Economists warned that a fall in invisible receipts would weaken the overall balance of payments.
- Britain earns a lot from invisible exports like insurance and banking.
- Invisible earnings from tourism are important for this island nation.
- The government report shows a strong surplus in invisibles this year.
service earnings in trade statistics
In economic writing, money a country gets from services, not from selling physical goods. This is usually called "invisibles".
invisibles account for [amount] / surplus in invisibles
- The country's substantial invisibles more than compensate for its deficit in manufactured goods.
- Invisibles now play a larger role in the balance of payments than visible trade.
- The report breaks down the growth in invisibles into financial services, tourism, and royalties.
- Invisibles include services like tourism and banking.
- The economist said invisibles are now very important for the country.
- They hope higher invisibles will reduce the trade deficit.
the unseen spiritual reality
The spiritual world that people cannot see, often mentioned in religious or very formal writing.
the invisible and the visible / faith in the invisible
- The poet writes of a thin veil between the visible and the invisible.
- For her, prayer was a way of touching the invisible.
- Mystics claim to find meaning not in material things but in the invisible.
- Some religions speak about the invisible and the visible world.
- He says art can open our eyes to the invisible.
- The book is about a man who searches for the invisible in daily life.
- Base: invisible
feel invisible
1feel unnoticed or ignored
To feel that other people do not see you, listen to you, or care about you.
- She said she often feels invisible at work when no one listens to her ideas.
- Teenagers can feel invisible when adults talk over them.
- If you never thank people for their help, they may start to feel invisible.
invisible disability
1disability not seen from outside
A health problem or condition that limits what a person can do, but that other people cannot easily see from the outside.
- Many people with invisible disabilities face doubt because others think they "look fine."
- The campaign raises awareness of invisible disabilities like chronic pain and mental illness.
invisible illness
1long-term hidden medical condition
A long-term sickness or condition that you cannot see when you look at a person.
- She writes a blog about living with an invisible illness.
- People with invisible illnesses are often told they "don’t look sick."
invisible ink
1ink you cannot see until revealed
A kind of ink that you cannot see on the paper until you heat it or use a special light or chemical.
- The children wrote secret messages with invisible ink and revealed them with a candle.
- Spies in old stories often used invisible ink to send information.
invisible labor
1unpaid or unrecognized work
Work that people do, often at home or in caring for others, that is not paid and not clearly seen or valued by society.
- The article highlights the invisible labor that mothers do in the home.
- Household planning and emotional support are forms of invisible labor that rarely appear in job statistics.
invisible to the naked eye
1cannot be seen without tools
Too small or too weak to see without special equipment, like a microscope.
- The cracks in the metal are invisible to the naked eye but show up on the scan.
- Most bacteria are invisible to the naked eye and must be seen under a microscope.
make yourself invisible
1go away or hide from notice
To go away or stay hidden so that people do not see you or do not notice you.
- The guests had arrived early, so he made himself invisible in his office until he was ready.
- When the argument started, she quietly made herself invisible in her room.
the invisible hand
1market forces guiding outcomes
An idea in economics that when people act in their own interest in a free market, their actions can also help the whole society, as if an unseen force guides the market.
- Classical economists believed that the invisible hand of the market would lead to efficient outcomes.
- He argued that government interference would weaken the invisible hand that keeps prices in balance.