Inconclusive
/ˌɪnkənˈkluːsɪv/
Definitions
Not providing a clear or definite answer or result; not leading to a final or decisive conclusion.
/ˌɪnkənˈkluːsɪv/
Not leading to a definite conclusion or result
The investigation into the cause of the fire was inconclusive.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying to solve a puzzle, but you're missing some pieces, so you can't figure out the whole picture. That's like something being inconclusive. It's not giving you a clear answer.
👶 For kids: It means we don't know the answer yet. It's like when you're playing a game and nobody wins.
More Examples
The evidence presented in court was inconclusive and the jury was unable to reach a verdict.
The experiment yielded inconclusive results, prompting the researchers to repeat it.
How It's Used
"The results of the study were inconclusive and further research is needed."
"The evidence presented was deemed inconclusive, and the case was dismissed."
"After hours of debate, the discussion remained inconclusive."
Synonyms & Antonyms
From Latin *in-*, meaning "not," and *conclusus*, the past participle of *claudere* ("to close, to shut, to conclude"). The word reflects a lack of a definitive or final result.
The term has been used since the late 17th century, initially in legal and scientific contexts to denote a lack of definitive proof or outcome.
Memory tip
Imagine a detective investigating a crime scene. If the clues are mixed and don't point to a single suspect, the case is inconclusive.
Word Origin
"not concluded, not final"