Unmarketable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Identifying a good or service that fails to entice customers due to its quality or attributes
2. Unable to be sold effectively because it does not appeal to buyers
3. Not meeting the conditions or qualities that attract consumers for purchase

Etymology: "Unmarketable" is a plain English compound, built by adding the prefix "un-" to "marketable," which itself combines "market" with the suffix "-able." The prefix "un-" is an ancient Germanic negation that English has used since Old English, so it attaches freely to adjectives like this one. The base word traces a longer path. "Market" comes from Latin "mercatus," meaning trade or commerce, and reached English through Old French. The suffix "-able" arrived by a separate route: Latin "-abilis" passed into Old French as "-able," and English later adopted it, so "marketable," meaning fit to be sold, was formed from a market word plus this suffix. Because the parts are so transparent, the word needs no special story. Its meaning follows directly from its pieces: a thing that cannot find a buyer, because no one wants it at the price or in the form offered.

Synonyms: unsalable, unappealing, undesirable, unattractive, nonviable

Antonyms: marketable, saleable, desirable, attractive, viable