WordGarden.iounplayable
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /ʌnplˈeɪəbəl/
US
- /ʌnplˈeɪəbəl/
Meanings
Adjective
not fit or possible to use, continue, or take part in during a game or other play context
so dominant in a sporting contest that opponents cannot cope with it
unable to run or be played back successfully on a device, app, or digital platform
More meaningsFewer meanings
too difficult or impossible to perform on an instrument or by musicians
Beyond the definition
"Unplayable" describes something that cannot be played or used in the normal way. In sports, it often refers to conditions like a soccer field covered in mud or a golf course made unsafe by heavy rain, where play cannot continue. It can also describe a player or shot that is almost impossible to deal with, such as a tennis serve that is too fast or too accurate to return. Outside sports, the word is also used for media or files, like a damaged record or a corrupted video file that a device cannot play. It does not just mean difficult; it means normal play or use is no longer possible.
The term "unplayable" describes something that cannot be played, handled, or used as it should be. The problem may come from bad conditions, technical trouble, or a level of skill that makes normal play almost impossible. The word usually suggests more than simple difficulty. It points to a point where continuing in the usual way is not really possible.
In sports, the word has two main uses. First, it can describe the place or conditions. A field may be too wet, damaged, or dangerous for a match to go on, so officials call it unplayable. Second, it can describe performance. If a batter, striker, or tennis player is called unplayable, they are performing so well that the other side can barely respond. In this sense, the word is often praise, especially in live commentary and sports writing.
The word is also common in technology and media. A song, video, game, or file may be unplayable because it is damaged, incomplete, or in a format the device does not support. In all of these cases, the central idea stays the same: something that should be played cannot be played properly, either because the conditions are wrong, the file is broken, or the opposition cannot realistically cope with what is happening.
Examples
- 1
Game performance
The latest update made the game unplayable on older laptops.
- 2
Sports field
Heavy rain left the pitch unplayable, so the match was postponed.
- 3
Tennis shot
On match point, she hit an unplayable drop shot that landed just over the net.
- 4
Golf rule
His ball ended up under a bush, so he declared it unplayable.
- Domainin golf, declare a ball unplayable
officially say it is in a position you cannot reasonably hit
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- unplayableadjective