unacceptable
/ˌʌn.ækˈsɛp.tə.bl̩/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: unacceptables
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Unsatisfactory; not acceptable.
Adjective
Examples
"This shocking report proves once again that we urgently need a radical shake-up of hospital care," said Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society. "Given that people with dementia occupy a quarter of hospital beds and that many leave in worse health than when they were admitted, it
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Not conforming to accepted usage.
Adjective
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Meaning · English
Something that is not acceptable.
Noun
Examples
Second, the data collected using CASEMAP afford us the opportunity to conduct market segmentation analyses based on the similarity in the pattern of unacceptables and/or the benefits that consumers seek in the category.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “unacceptable” mean?
Unsatisfactory; not acceptable.
Is “unacceptable” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.