irrevocable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- irrevocability noun
- irrevocableness noun
- irrevocably adverb
- nonirrevocability noun
- nonirrevocable adjective
- nonirrevocableness noun
Etymology
Origin of irrevocable
First recorded in 1350–1400; a Middle English word from the Latin word irrevocābilis; see ir- 2, revocable
Explanation
If you're on a diet but eat one tiny piece of chocolate, it might start an irrevocable slide into bad eating. Describe something as irrevocable if it cannot be undone or taken back. If you break down irrevocable, you wind up with ir "not," re "back" and vocable from the Latin vocare "to call." So if something is irrevocable, you cannot call it back — it is permanent. You must fulfill an irrevocable promise and live with an irrevocable decision. A law is irrevocable if it states within the law that it cannot be nullified. Now that's final!
Vocabulary lists containing irrevocable
Grade 9, List 3
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"The Black Cat" by Edgar Allan Poe
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The Bluest Eye
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The ruling at the UK's highest court said adoption should be "permanent and irrevocable" except in rare cases where an adoption decision had been wrongly taken.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026
A fully discretionary irrevocable trust provides stronger protection.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026
The annual taxes that most irrevocable non-grantor trusts pay can get steep quickly.
From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026
Her half goes into an irrevocable trust to support the husband during his lifetime, and whatever is left later goes to the other named beneficiaries, such as their children.
From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026
There was no real anger and nothing irrevocable was said.
From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
