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imponderabilia

/ɪmˌpɑndərəˈbɪliə/
IPA guide

Imponderabilia refers to intangible things that cannot be precisely quantified, though they do have an impact. Your favorite soccer team's success may be affected by imponderabilia such as team spirit and the intensity of fan support.

The root of imponderabilia is the Latin ponderare, "to weigh." The word also includes the prefix im-, "not," and -able, "can be." Collectively, the word imponderabilia means "that which cannot be weighed" with respect to exact impact or value. Some imponderabilia include how much you love someone, the real impact of social media on an election, or the mood of an audience watching a performance. While all these things can be felt, they can't be exactly measured.

Definitions of imponderabilia
  1. noun
    things or experiences that cannot be measured or evaluated, often because they are not fully understood
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