irreparable

[ ih-rep-er-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. not reparable; incapable of being rectified, remedied, or made good:

   an irreparable mistake.

irreparable

/ ɪˈrɛpərəbəl; ɪˈrɛprəbəl /

adjective

1. not able to be repaired or remedied; beyond repair

Derived Forms

• irˌreparaˈbility, noun
• irˈreparably, adverb

Other Words From

• ir·repa·ra·bili·ty ir·repa·ra·ble·ness noun
• ir·repa·ra·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of irreparable¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Latin word irreparābilis. See ir- ², reparable

Example Sentences

“They cannot swear under threat of perjury that there’s irreparable harm, and then turn around say under our litigation, ‘No harm, no foul.’”

From Los Angeles Times

The attack, which also destroyed a centuries-old Ottoman building, highlighted what some archaeologists say is the risk of irreparable damage to historical sites across Lebanon from the current war between Israel and Hezbollah.

From BBC

In 2020, the U.S. spent more than $31.4 billion to support a child welfare system that, despite its name and good intentions, often causes irreparable damage to children and families.

From Salon

GB News has already lost a High Court challenge to stop Ofcom from temporarily sanctioning it, in which their lawyers argued it would cause "irreparable damage" to its reputation.

From BBC

“We do need to allow enough time for the 9th Circuit to make a decision before there is irreparable harm,” Rosenberg replied.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• irreplaceable
• irreversible

Irreparable Vs. Unrepairable

What’s the difference between irreparable and unrepairable?

Irreparable and unrepairable both mean just about the same thing: unable to be repaired or fixed.

They can be used in overlapping ways, but they are usually used in different contexts and situations.

Irreparable is the more commonly used word. It can be applied to objects, such as machines or appliances, that can’t be repaired, but it’s perhaps most commonly used in the context of intangible things like circumstances and relationships. It’s especially used with the word damage, as in I’m afraid I’ve done irreparable damage to my reputation or The iceberg caused irreparable damage to the ship’s hull.

On the other hand, unrepairable is typically reserved for physical objects that can’t be fixed, such as cars, tables, or computers, as in I hate that a lot of appliances are manufactured in a way that makes them unrepairable. Still, unrepairable can also be applied to intangible things in the same way that irreparable usually is.

Here’s an example of irreparable and unrepairable used correctly in a sentence.

Example of irreparable: Sources close to the team say that the relationship between the coaches and the players is irreparable at this point.

Example of unrepairable: I’m really hoping my mechanic doesn’t tell me my car is unrepairable—I really don’t want to buy a new one. 

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between irreparable and unrepairable.

Quiz yourself on irreparable vs. unrepairable!

True or False? 

Irreparable and unrepairable can sometimes be used interchangeably.