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# unacceptable

adjective (unacceptable)

«unacceptable» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Unacceptable means not good enough or not allowed, so it cannot be accepted. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unacceptable/#m1)
2. Unacceptable behaviour is behaviour that is wrong and must stop, like bullying or hitting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unacceptable/#m2)

### In the lessons

In school and safety rules, «unacceptable» is a strong word used by teachers and parents: «Swearing at a teacher is unacceptable.» In news and politics, leaders call things unacceptable to show strong disapproval. In maths and science, «an unacceptable answer» or «an unacceptable error» is one that is too far off. Phrases: «totally unacceptable», «completely unacceptable», «unacceptable behaviour».

### Examples

- Bullying is unacceptable in our school. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unacceptable/#x1)
- The head teacher said the mess in the toilets was unacceptable. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unacceptable/#x2)
- Being rude to the dinner ladies is unacceptable. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unacceptable/#x3)
- The shop said a torn receipt was unacceptable. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unacceptable/#x4)
- The water in the old pipes had unacceptable levels of lead. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unacceptable/#x5)
- The judge called the driver's speed unacceptable. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unacceptable/#x6)
- An answer with no working is unacceptable in this test. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unacceptable/#x7)

### Note

Opposite: acceptable. Prefix «un-» means not. Spelt with «cc»: un-ac-cept-able. Do not confuse «accept» (agree to take) with «except» (but not). Formal and strong in tone: adults use it when they are serious.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «unacceptable» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unacceptable/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«unacceptable» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/unacceptable.html) on Mova free.