indivisible
C1Formal, Academic, Political
Definition
Meaning
Impossible to divide or separate into parts.
Used to describe something that must remain whole or unified, often in political, mathematical, moral, or conceptual contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adjective. Often used in political contexts to describe nations or unions, and in mathematics/geometry to describe a number or quantity that cannot be divided without a remainder or a fraction. Can imply a strong, inherent unity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent. The concept is equally prominent in American political discourse (e.g., 'one nation, indivisible') and British constitutional debates (e.g., the 'indivisible' United Kingdom).
Connotations
Strong connotations of permanence, unity, and integrity in both varieties. In the US, it carries deep patriotic resonance from the Pledge of Allegiance.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to the Pledge of Allegiance being a common cultural reference.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[BE] + indivisible[BE] + indivisible + from + NOUN[BE] + considered/seen/deemed + indivisibleVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a seamless and indivisible whole”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used in mergers & acquisitions to describe a company that must be sold as a single entity.
Academic
Common in political science (state sovereignty), philosophy (rights, consciousness), and mathematics (prime numbers).
Everyday
Limited. Used when emphasising unbreakable unity, e.g., in a family or a team.
Technical
In mathematics, describing an integer not exactly divisible by any number except itself and 1 (i.e., prime).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A – Primarily an adjective. The verb form is not standard.
American English
- N/A – Primarily an adjective. The verb form is not standard.
adverb
British English
- N/A – No standard adverbial form ('indivisibly' is extremely rare).
American English
- N/A – No standard adverbial form ('indivisibly' is extremely rare).
adjective
British English
- The sovereignty of Parliament is often considered indivisible.
- They argued that the rights of the citizen were indivisible from their responsibilities.
American English
- The union between the states was declared indivisible.
- He viewed liberty and justice as indivisible concepts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A square is divisible into two triangles, but some things are indivisible.
- The team worked as an indivisible unit to win the championship.
- For them, trust and friendship were indivisible.
- The principle of human rights is that they are universal and indivisible.
- Mathematicians study prime numbers, which are indivisible by any other integer.
- The court's ruling affirmed that national sovereignty is indivisible and cannot be parcelled out.
- Philosophers have long debated whether consciousness is a single, indivisible phenomenon or a collection of processes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'IN-DIVIDE-IBLE'. You are NOT ABLE (-ible) to DIVIDE it IN any way.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNITY IS WHOLENESS / INTEGRITY IS SOLIDITY (e.g., 'an indivisible bond' metaphorically treats the bond as a solid object that cannot be split).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'неделимый' (literally correct) and 'неразделимый' (inseparable, often emotional). 'Indivisible' is more formal and absolute than 'неразделимый'. Avoid using it for temporary unity.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'invisible'. Confusing 'indivisible' (cannot be divided) with 'indivisible' (can be divided) due to the negative prefix. Using it in informal contexts where 'inseparable' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is 'indivisible' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Inseparable' often describes things that are very closely linked and should not be separated (e.g., best friends). 'Indivisible' is stronger and more absolute, meaning they fundamentally cannot be divided or split into parts (e.g., a sovereign state, a prime number).
Yes, but it's figurative and formal. You might say 'They were an indivisible team,' meaning they functioned as a perfect, unified whole. In everyday speech, 'inseparable' is more common for people.
The most common error is confusing it with 'invisible' due to similar spelling. Another mistake is using it in casual contexts where a simpler word like 'whole' or 'united' would be more appropriate.
It comes from the US Pledge of Allegiance ('one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all'), written in 1892. It emphasises the permanent union of the American states after the Civil War.
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