Word Study
infallible
CIDE DICTIONARY
infallible, a. [Pref. in- not + fallible: cf. F. infallible.].
- Not fallible; not capable of erring; entirely exempt from liability to mistake; unerring; inerrable. Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- Not liable to fail, deceive, or disappoint; indubitable; sure; certain; as, infallible evidence; infallible success; an infallible remedy. [1913 Webster]"To whom also he showed himself alive, after his passion, by many infallible proofs." [1913 Webster]
- Incapable of error in defining doctrines touching faith or morals. See
Papal infallibility , under Infallibility. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
infallible, adj.
1 incapable of error.
2 (of a method, test, proof, etc.) unfailing; sure to succeed.
3 RC Ch. (of the Pope) unable to err in pronouncing dogma as doctrinally defined.
1 incapable of error.
2 (of a method, test, proof, etc.) unfailing; sure to succeed.
3 RC Ch. (of the Pope) unable to err in pronouncing dogma as doctrinally defined.
Derivative
infallibility n. infallibly adv.
Etymology
ME f. F infaillible or LL infallibilis (as IN-(1), FALLIBLE)
THESAURUS
infallible
absolute, acceptable, agreeable, beyond all praise, certain, chaste, close, constant, correct, defectless, delicate, dependable, direct, effective, efficacious, efficient, even, exact, express, faithful, faultless, fine, flawless, foolproof, handy, helpful, ideal, immaculate, impeccable, indefectible, indefective, inerrable, inerrant, irreproachable, just right, mathematical, micrometrically precise, microscopic, nice, oracular, peerless, perfect, pinpoint, precise, pure, refined, reliable, religious, religiously exact, rigid, rigorous, satisfactory, satisfying, scientific, scientifically exact, secure, severe, sinless, spotless, square, stainless, strict, subtle, sure, surefire, taintless, unadulterated, unblemished, uncontaminated, undeceivable, undeviating, unerring, unfailing, unfaultable, unmistaken, unmixed, unspotted, untainted, usefulROGET THESAURUS
infallible
Certainty
N certainty, necessity, certitude, surety, assurance, dead certainty, moral certainty, infallibleness, infallibility, reliability, indubitableness, inevitableness, unquestionableness, gospel, scripture, church, pope, court of final appeal, res judicata, ultimatum positiveness, dogmatism, dogmatist, dogmatizer, doctrinaire, bigot, opinionist, Sir Oracle, ipse dixit, fact, positive fact, matter of fact, fait accompli, certain, sure, assured, solid, well-founded, unqualified, absolute, positive, determinate, definite, clear, unequivocal, categorical, unmistakable, decisive, decided, ascertained, inevitable, unavoidable, avoidless, ineluctable, unerring, infallible, unchangeable, to be depended on, trustworthy, reliable, bound, unimpeachable, undeniable, unquestionable, indisputable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indubitable, irrefutable, conclusive, without power of appeal, indubious, without doubt, beyond a doubt, without a shade or shadow of doubt, without question, beyond question, past dispute, clear as day, beyond all question, beyond all dispute, undoubted, uncontested, unquestioned, undisputed, questionless, doubtless, authoritative, authentic, official, sure as fate, sure as death and taxes, sure as a gun, evident, self-evident, axiomatic, clear, clear as day, clear as the sun at noonday, certainly, for certain, certes, sure, no doubt, doubtless, and no mistake, flagrante delicto, sure enough, to be sure, of course, as a matter of course, a coup sur, to a certainty, in truth, at any rate, at all events, without fail, coute que coute, coute qu'il coute, whatever may happen, if the worst come to the worst, come what may, happen what may, come what will, sink or swim, rain or shine, cela va sans dire, there is no question, no question, not a shadow of doubt, there is not a shadow of doubt, the die is cast, facts are stubborn things.For further exploring for "infallible" in Webster Dictionary Online