If you describe something as invisible, you mean that it cannot be seen, for example because it is transparent, hidden, or very small.
The lines were so finely etched as to be invisible from a distance.
The belt is invisible even under the thinnest garments.
Synonyms: unseen, imperceptible, indiscernible, unseeable More Synonyms of invisible
invisibly (ɪnvɪzɪbli)adverb [ADVERB with verb]
A thin coil of smoke rose almost invisibly into the sharp, bright sky.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You can use invisible when you are talking about something that cannot be seen but has a definite effect. In this sense, invisible is often used before a noun which refers to something that can usually be seen.
Parents fear they might overstep these invisible boundaries.
Her father's face had suddenly tightened as though he was being strangled by invisiblehands.
invisiblyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
...the tradition that invisibly shapes things in the present.
3. adjective
If you say that you feel invisible, you are complaining that you are being ignored by other people. If you say that a particular problem or situation is invisible, you are complaining that it is not being considered or dealt with.
It was strange, how invisible a clerk could feel.
The problems of the poor are largely invisible.
Synonyms: hidden, concealed, obscured, secret More Synonyms of invisible
invisibility (ɪnvɪzɪbɪlɪti)uncountable noun
...the invisibility of women's concerns in society. [+ of]
4. adjective
In stories, invisible people or things have a magic quality which makes people unable to see them.
...The Invisible Man.
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
In economics, invisible earnings are the money that a country makes as a result of services such as banking and tourism, rather than by producing goods.
[business]
Tourism is Britain's single biggest invisible export.
The revenue from tourism is the biggest single item in the country's invisible earnings.
The invisible trade surplus was £900 million lower than reported.
6. plural noun
Invisibles are services such as banking and tourism, which provide a country's invisible earnings.
[mainly British, technical]
invisible in British English
(ɪnˈvɪzəbəl)
adjective
1.
not visible; not able to be perceived by the eye
invisible rays
2.
concealed from sight; hidden
3.
not easily seen or noticed
invisible mending
4.
kept hidden from public view; secret; clandestine
5. economics
of or relating to services rather than goods in relation to the invisible balance
invisible earnings
noun
6. economics
an invisible item of trade; service
Derived forms
invisibility (inˌvisiˈbility) or invisibleness (inˈvisibleness)
noun
invisibly (inˈvisibly)
adverb
invisible in American English
(ɪnˈvɪzəbəl)
adjective
1.
not visible; that cannot be seen
2.
out of sight; not apparent
3.
too small or too faint to be seen; imperceptible
4.
kept hidden
invisible assets
noun
5.
an invisible thing or being
Idioms:
the Invisible
Derived forms
invisibility (inˌvisiˈbility)
noun or inˈvisibleness
invisibly (inˈvisibly)
adverb
Word origin
OFr < L invisibilis
Examples of 'invisible' in a sentence
invisible
This is a friendship with visible shallows and invisible depths.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Not work a shifty deal to remain invisible.
The Sun (2016)
It seemed as if they were knit together by an invisible force.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Stanford emerged and did that pointing at invisible people trick that politicians do.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She feels invisible both to the world and to herself.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The enemy was invisible and money unreal.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It turns out that we can make people feel invisible very easily.
Christianity Today (2000)
The invisible hand decides who lives and dies.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You survey the world but remain invisible.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Trade in goods is known as visible exports and trade in services is known as invisible exports.
Chambers, Ian Business Studies Basic Facts (1990)
Another man erupts into a lengthy solo of being battered about by something invisible.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We were hit by an invisible force.
The Sun (2012)
What did the invisible man look like?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Only invisible little people need patience and have to wait.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Perhaps it should be paid for with invisible money?
The Sun (2010)
But how do you make yourself invisible?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
During this period many people began to question seriously the liberal notion of the invisible hand.
Hunt, E. K. Property and Prophets: The Evolution of Economic Institutions and Ideologies (1995)
It includes both visible and invisible imports and exports and flows of capital between countries.
Chambers, Ian Business Studies Basic Facts (1990)
But he remained invisible to the hordes of passengers trapped at the stricken airport.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The invisible force in society that nobody wants to mention.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Older people have become invisible in their own fragmented neighbourhoods.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We talk about the invisible man.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They wanted something discreet, invisible if possible.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He quotes recipes for making yourself invisible from medieval magic books, many of which involve doing gruesome things to other people's body parts.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
invisible
British English: invisible /ɪnˈvɪzəbl/ ADJECTIVE
If something is invisible, you cannot see it, because it is hidden or because it is very small or faint.
The scar was almost invisible.
American English: invisible
Arabic: خَفِيٌّ
Brazilian Portuguese: invisível
Chinese: 无形的
Croatian: nevidljiv
Czech: neviditelný
Danish: usynlig
Dutch: onzichtbaar
European Spanish: invisible
Finnish: näkymätön
French: invisible
German: unsichtbar
Greek: αόρατος
Italian: invisibile
Japanese: 目に見えない
Korean: 보이지 않는
Norwegian: usynlig
Polish: niewidzialny
European Portuguese: invisível
Romanian: invizibil
Russian: невидимый
Latin American Spanish: invisible
Swedish: osynlig
Thai: มองไม่เห็น
Turkish: görünmez
Ukrainian: невидимий
Vietnamese: vô hình
All related terms of 'invisible'
invisible ink
a liquid used for writing that does not become visible until it has been treated with chemicals , heat, ultraviolet light, etc
the Invisible
God
invisible assets
assets that are not physical , such as services or good will
invisible balance
the difference in value between total exports of services plus payment of property incomes from abroad and total imports of services plus payment abroad of property incomes
invisible earnings
earnings from services provided rather than goods
invisible exports
services sold to a foreign country or countries
invisible imports
imports of services rather than goods
invisible mending
any form of repair , esp to clothing, in which the aim is to make the finished repair work undetectable
Chinese translation of 'invisible'
invisible
(ɪnˈvɪzɪbl)
adj
看不见(見)的 (kàn bù jiàn de)
[problem, situation]被忽略的 (bèi hūlüè de)
[exports, earnings, assets]无(無)形的 (wúxíng de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
not able to be seen by the eye
The lines were so fine as to be nearly invisible.
Synonyms
unseen
playing computer games against unseen opponents
imperceptible
His hesitation was almost imperceptible.
indiscernible
The signs were so concealed as to be almost indiscernible.
unseeable
unperceivable
Opposites
seen
,
obvious
,
visible
,
distinct
,
discernible
,
perceptible
2 (adjective)
Definition
concealed from sight
The problems of the poor are largely invisible.
Synonyms
hidden
The den was hidden in the undergrowth.
concealed
He was filmed with a concealed camera.
obscured
secret
It has a secret compartment hidden behind the magical mirror.
disguised
a disguised tax on immigration
inconspicuous
I'll try to be as inconspicuous as possible.
unobserved
unnoticeable
inappreciable
Additional synonyms
in the sense of concealed
He was filmed with a concealed camera.
Synonyms
hidden,
covered,
secret,
screened,
masked,
obscured,
covert,
unseen,
tucked away,
secreted,
under wraps,
inconspicuous
in the sense of disguised
a disguised tax on immigration
Synonyms
covert,
hidden,
concealed,
sly,
sneaky,
furtive,
underhand,
back-alley
in the sense of imperceptible
Definition
too slight, subtle, or gradual to be noticed
His hesitation was almost imperceptible.
Synonyms
undetectable,
slight,
subtle,
small,
minute,
fine,
tiny,
faint,
invisible,
gradual,
shadowy,
microscopic,
indistinguishable,
inaudible,
infinitesimal,
teeny-weeny,
unnoticeable,
insensible,
impalpable (formal),
indiscernible,
teensy-weensy,
inappreciable
Synonyms of 'invisible'
invisible
Explore 'invisible' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inconspicuous
Definition
not easily noticed or seen
I'll try to be as inconspicuous as possible.
Synonyms
unobtrusive,
hidden,
unnoticeable,
retiring,
quiet,
ordinary,
plain,
muted,
camouflaged,
insignificant,
unassuming,
unostentatious
in the sense of indiscernible
Definition
not able or scarcely able to be seen
The signs were so concealed as to be almost indiscernible.
Synonyms
invisible,
hidden,
imperceptible,
indistinguishable,
indistinct,
impalpable (formal),
unapparent,
undiscernible
in the sense of secret
Definition
kept hidden or separate from the knowledge of all or all but a few others
It has a secret compartment hidden behind the magical mirror.