unreliable
/ˌʌn.ɹɪˈlaɪ.ə.bl̩/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: unreliables
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Not reliable.
Adjective
Examples
Tell one another whether any one of you has ever heard me discuss such questions briefly or at length; and then you will realize that the other popular reports about me are equally unreliable.
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
One who or that which cannot be relied upon.
Noun
Examples
His employment by the leading papers in Chicago was intermittent, as he was classed among the unreliables. One could never tell when he was going to get drunk.
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 “unreliable” mean?
Not reliable.
Is “unreliable” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.