Is invisible the same as hidden?

Not exactly. Invisible means you cannot see it. Hidden means it is kept out of sight.

Can invisible describe feelings or problems?

Yes. People often say an issue is invisible when others do not notice it.

What is the opposite of invisible?

Visible is the most common opposite.

Is invisible formal or informal?

It is common in both everyday and academic English.

← Dictionary

invisible

/ɪnˈvɪz.ə.bəl/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

Not able to be seen. Something invisible exists, but your eyes cannot detect it. It can also mean hidden or not noticed.

The moon was invisible behind the clouds.
His mistakes were invisible to the manager.
The wire is almost invisible in daylight.

Adinary Nuance

Invisible is about being impossible to see, while hidden means not easy to find. Unseen is often used when something was not seen at a particular time, but it may still be visible. Unnoticeable is closer to being hard to notice, not fully invisible.

In other languages

Vietnamese: vô hình
Spanish: invisible
Chinese: 看不见的
Japanese: 見えない
Korean: 보이지 않는

Etymology

From Latin invisibilis, from in- meaning 'not' and visibilis meaning 'able to be seen'. It came into English in the late Middle Ages.

Common phrases

invisible to the naked eyeinvisible lineinvisible barrierbecome invisible

Synonyms

unseen hidden imperceptible impervious

Frequently asked questions

Is invisible the same as hidden?: Not exactly. Invisible means you cannot see it. Hidden means it is kept out of sight.
Can invisible describe feelings or problems?: Yes. People often say an issue is invisible when others do not notice it.
What is the opposite of invisible?: Visible is the most common opposite.
Is invisible formal or informal?: It is common in both everyday and academic English.