Meaning & use
unconvertible
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
Not able to be changed into a different form, purpose, or belief.
Grammar: Describes a state that cannot change; often followed by 'into' or 'to'.
Patterns
- unconvertible into something
- unconvertible to something
The old currency became unconvertible after the government introduced new money.
His strong opinions seemed unconvertible, no matter how much evidence we presented.
The building's layout is unconvertible into separate apartments without major structural work.
adjectivenot comparablefinance
In finance, (of a currency or bond) not able to be exchanged for another currency or for stock.
Grammar: Used mainly in financial contexts; often before a noun.
Patterns
- unconvertible currency
- unconvertible bond
Investors avoided the unconvertible currency because they could not take their money out of the country.
The bond was unconvertible, so it could not be turned into shares.
During the crisis, many currencies became unconvertible for a short time.
Common combinations
- unconvertible currency
- The country's unconvertible currency made international trade difficult.
- unconvertible into
- The old warehouse is unconvertible into a modern office without huge costs.
- unconvertible to
- These files are unconvertible to the new format.
- remain unconvertible
- The bonds remain unconvertible until next year.
Synonyms and how they differ
- inconvertible
- A rarer variant that means the same, but 'unconvertible' is more common in everyday speech.
- unchangeable
- Focuses on something that cannot be changed at all, not specifically exchanged or converted.
- fixed
- Suggests something is set and not likely to change, but does not imply a failed conversion.
Opposites
Word family
- convert verb
- To change something into another form or use.
- conversion noun
- The act of changing something into a different form.
- convertible adjective
- Able to be changed or exchanged.
Commonly confused: unconvertible or inconvertible?
unconvertible vs inconvertible
This is a less common variant of 'unconvertible'; both mean not convertible, but 'unconvertible' is preferred in modern English.
Practice
The government declared the old banknotes ______ after the new currency was introduced.
Choose one answer.
'Unconvertible' means not able to be exchanged, which fits the context. 'Convertible' means able to be exchanged, the opposite. 'Converted' is a verb form and would need a different sentence structure.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unconvertible”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.