Meanings
comparative more incommensurable · superlative most incommensurable
- mathematicshaving a ratio that is not expressible as a fraction of two integers.
The side and diagonal of a square are incommensurable with each other; the diameter and circumference of a circle are incommensurable.
- mathematicshaving no common integer divisor except 1.
- Not able to be measured by the same standards as another term in the context.
plural incommensurables
- An incommensurable value or quantity; an irrational number.
Unfortunately for Pythagoras, his theorem led at once to the discovery of incommensurables, which appeared to disprove his whole philosophy.
1946, Bertrand Russell, chapter 3, in History of Western Philosophy
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveimpossible to measure or compare in value or size or excellence
adjectivenot having a common factor
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Medieval Latinincommensurabilis
- Middle Frenchincommensurable
- Englishincommensurable
From Middle French incommensurable, from Medieval Latin incommensurabilis. Its full etymology is equivalent to that of in- + commensurable.
More words from Middle French, Medieval Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 互質 /互质, 互素
- 互質 /互质 (hùzhì)having no common divisor except 1
- 互素 (hùsù)having no common divisor except 1
- 缺乏可通约性not able to be measured by same standards
Czech nesoudělný, nesouměřitelný
- nesoudělnýhaving no common divisor except 1
- nesouměřitelnýnot able to be measured by same standards
Dutch incommensurabel, onderling onmeetbaar
- incommensurabelnot able to be measured by same standards
- onderling onmeetbaarnot able to be measured by same standards
Finnish yhteistekijätön, yhteismitaton
- yhteistekijätönhaving no common divisor except 1
- yhteismitatonnot able to be measured by same standards
French incommensurable, sans commune mesure
- incommensurablehaving no common divisor except 1
- sans commune mesurenot able to be measured by same standards
- incommensurablenot able to be measured by same standards
Cite this entry
incommensurable. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/incommensurable
“incommensurable.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/incommensurable. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “incommensurable,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/incommensurable.
Source: incommensurable on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.