WordGarden.ioinfallibly
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪnfˈæləbli/
US
Meanings
Adverb
without making mistakes; unerringly
certainly and without fail
with religious doctrinal freedom from error
Beyond the definition
Imagine a master clockmaker known for making timepieces that always tell the right time. That is the idea behind "infallibly"—something is done with complete certainty and without any mistake. It is stronger than simply being accurate. It suggests a way of acting or judging that does not go wrong. You might say a guide infallibly finds the path home, or that a seasoned cook infallibly knows when the bread is ready. It points to a very high level of trust and reliability.
Think of it like this: if you usually get good grades, you are doing well. But if you get good grades every single time, people may start to see you as someone who simply does not miss.
"Infallibly" means in a way that does not fail, does not make a mistake, or does not lead to the wrong result. It is a strong word, and it usually adds the idea of perfect reliability. If someone remembers names infallibly, they never seem to forget one. If a method works infallibly, it works every time. The root comes from the Latin in- (not) and fallere (to deceive or fail), giving the sense of "not able to fail."
It is most often used with verbs that involve judgment, recognition, timing, or results. A detective might infallibly spot a lie. A musician might infallibly come in on the right beat. In formal, historical, or religious writing, the related adjective "infallible" can describe a person, rule, or text that is said to be free from error.
However, be careful with "infallibly." It makes a very strong claim and can sound exaggerated or arrogant, especially if you use it about yourself. In everyday English, people often choose it for emphasis, not because something is truly perfect.
You might see it in lines such as "She infallibly knew when he was hiding something" or "The old dog infallibly found its way back home." In each case, the word carries a sense of certainty, accuracy, and a result that seems never to fail.
Examples
- 1
Everyday skill
My grandmother could infallibly tell when the bread was ready just by the smell.
- 2
Family chat
Mention travel plans in our family group chat, and someone will infallibly start an argument.
- 3
Polite behavior
He was infallibly polite, even to customers who were clearly angry.
- Patterninfallibly + adjective
always in that way
- 4
Political judgment
Many voters wanted a leader who would infallibly make the right decisions.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- fallibly
- unreliably
Used with (collocations)
- infallibly accurate
- infallibly predicts
- almost infallibly
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- infalliblyadverb