unrepairable

[ uhn-ri-pair-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. that cannot be repaired: repair:

   Some old clocks are unrepairable.

2. that cannot be rectified or remedied; irreparable.

Word History and Origins

Origin of unrepairable¹

First recorded in 1605–15; un- ¹ + repair ¹ + -able

Example Sentences

Other Lives makes meaning out of old, cast-off clothes, drawing on the practices and philosophies of Japanese creative techniques like suminagashi dyeing, sachiko embroidery and kintsugi ceramics mending to see the redeeming spirit in an item, to repair the unrepairable.

From Los Angeles Times

Other Lives makes meaning out of old, cast-off clothes, drawing on the practices and philosophies of Japanese creative techniques like suminagashi dyeing, sachiko embroidery and kintsugi ceramics mending to see the redeeming spirit in an item, to repair the unrepairable.

From Los Angeles Times

A couple of weeks later, the White House targeted another source of hidden fees — unrepairable products that force owners to pay for servicing by authorized shops — by convening a roundtable on the “right to repair.”

From Los Angeles Times

About 18 percent of gasoline cars involved in crashes are totaled, while only about 6 percent of battery-powered vehicles are deemed unrepairable after accidents, according to Mitchell.

From New York Times

"I think it would be very unfortunate and will probably damage the democratic process in Pakistan, maybe in an unrepairable manner. We've never seen elections postponed."

From BBC

Unrepairable Vs. Irreparable

What’s the difference between unrepairable and irreparable?

Unrepairable and irreparable 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 unrepairable and irreparable 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 unrepairable and irreparable.

Quiz yourself on unrepairable vs. irreparable!

True or False? 

Unrepairable and irreparable can sometimes be used interchangeably.