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Synonyms

irrevocable

American  
[ih-rev-uh-kuh-buhl] / ɪˈrɛv ə kə bəl /

adjective

  1. not to be revoked or recalled; unable to be repealed or annulled; unalterable.

    an irrevocable decree.
irrevocable British  
/ ɪˈrɛvəkəbəl /

adjective

  1. not able to be revoked, changed, or undone; unalterable

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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; ir- 2, revocable

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.

“Although the trust is irrevocable, you have the right to change the beneficiaries,” The Karp Law Firm says.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

Due to a quirk in an irrevocable trust, it’s all or nothing for him.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Rather than the claimed irrevocable goodbye to Epstein, as the year ended Andrew sent an optimistic message: "Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and spectacular entry into 2011."

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

Paramount said it had resolved all the concerns that Warner had raised last month, “most notably by providing an irrevocable personal guarantee by Larry Ellison for the equity portion of the financing.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 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.