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infallible Definition

in·fal·lible (in fal′ə bəl)

adjective

  1. incapable of error; never wrong
  2. not liable to fail, go wrong, make a mistake, etc.; dependable; reliable; sure
  3. R.C.Ch. incapable of error in setting forth doctrine on faith and morals: said esp. of the pope speaking ex cathedra (i.e., in his official capacity)

Etymology: ML infallibilis: see in- & fallible

noun

an infallible person or thing

infallible Related Forms

in·fal′·libil′·ity noun in·fal′·libly adverb

infallible Synonyms

infallible

modif.

unerring, exact, perfect, unfailing, faultless, sure, reliable, dependable, trustworthy, unquestionable, true, authoritative, positive, irrefutable, apodictic, incontrovertible, fail-safe, sure-fire*; see also accurate 1, 2, certain 3.

Antonyms false*, fallible*, unreliable.

infallible Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • consider: Routine papal teaching, however, is not considered infallible.
  • make: A dozen good articles do not make an author infallible.

Used with adjective complement

consider: Logic behind this practice has always been considered infallible.

Modifies a noun

  • revelation: The Holy Scriptures are the infallible revelation of His will.
  • truth: That the bible is divinely inspired, the only infallible truth of God.
  • proof: They knew it was the Lord by " many infallible proofs " .
  • rule: Rather, establishing the validity of a premise requires an induction, for which there are no infallible rules.
  • guide: Jones, the ship's cat, is an infallible guide to the nearness of the alien.
  • word: Do not swap the infallible word of God for fallible human theories.

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: I resolved on overcoming her by an almost infallible method.
  • not: Review teams are not infallible, they don't always spot all of the problems.
  • only: Rather, they meant that the Bible is the only infallible authority in the church.
  • n't: And just to prove that Michael Bird's was n't infallible.. .
  • always: You need to bear in mind that your judgment is not always infallible.
  • therefore: There is only a problem for people like Phibber who take the Bible to be the word of God and therefore infallible.

Noun used with modifier

means: Like any other book it is by no means infallible and our increased understanding of some of these past events inevitably shows shortcomings.