infallible
gb/ɪnfˈæləbəl/ us/ɪnfˈæləbəl/
C1
Kiingereza
Maana
maana 0
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
never making mistakes
If someone is infallible, they are always right.
Muundo wa matumizi:
[someone] is infallible
Kosa la kawaida:
Do not confuse with inevitable (certain to happen) or invincible (cannot be defeated).
Visawe
unerring (More literary; emphasizes not making mistakes.)
|
always right (More informal and straightforward.)
Vinyume
fallible (Capable of making mistakes.)
|
mistaken (Wrong in a particular case.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
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
Mada
communication
|opinions
|people
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- 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.
Muundo wa matumizi:
an infallible [method/way/test/sign]
Kosa la kawaida:
In everyday English this is often an exaggeration; speakers may mean “very reliable,” not literally perfect.
Visawe
foolproof (Emphasizes that it is hard for people to use incorrectly.)
|
reliable (Weaker; means it usually works well, not perfectly.)
Vinyume
unreliable (Not dependable; may fail.)
|
fallible (Capable of error or failure.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
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
Mada
daily_life
|problem_solving
|products
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- 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.”
Muundo wa matumizi:
[religious authority/text] is infallible
Kosa la kawaida:
This sense is specialized; in general conversation, infallible usually just means “always right.”
Visawe
authoritative (Not the same; means trusted or official, not necessarily incapable of error.)
Vinyume
fallible (Capable of error, including in teaching or judgment.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
an infallible pope
|an infallible authority
|an infallible church
|an infallible scripture
|infallible teaching
|infallible doctrine
Mada
religion
|history
|politics
Mifano
- 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.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
infallible
IPA
GB/ɪnfˈæləbəl/
US/ɪnfˈæləbəl/
Silabi na mkazo
in - fal - lible (silabi 3)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fal)
Maumbo ya neno
Adjective
- Base: infallible
Familia ya neno
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
Semi
no one is infallible.
1/nˈoʊ wˈʌn ˈɪz ɪnfˈæləbəl ‖/
fixed phrase
everyone can make mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.