unpredictable

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: unpredictables

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Unable to be predicted.

Adjective

Examples

It has, therefore, always been a major problem for South African railways to cater adequately for this unpredictable city; three stations have had to be built on the present site during the last fifty years.

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

An unpredictable thing.

Noun

Examples

Other unpredictables, like the recent unexpected blizzards and those of 2 years ago, or a hurricane can cost us many thousands of dollars, and have a severe impact on equipment and facilities.

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 “unpredictable” mean?

Unable to be predicted.

Is “unpredictable” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.