What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
illegibility
Example
The doctor's handwriting was illegible, and the pharmacist couldn't read the prescription. [illegible: adjective]
Example
The photocopy was so blurry that it rendered the text illegible. [illegible: adjective]
indecipherability
Example
The ancient hieroglyphics were indecipherable until the discovery of the Rosetta Stone. [indecipherable: adjective]
Example
The spy's message was written in a secret code that was indecipherable without the key. [indecipherable: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Illegibility is more commonly used in everyday language, while indecipherability is more technical and specific to certain fields. Both words are less common than more general terms like 'unreadable' or 'unintelligible'.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between illegibility and indecipherability?
Indecipherability is more formal and technical than illegibility, which is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
