inviolate

[ in-vahy-uh-lit, -leyt ]

adjective

1. free from violation, injury, desecration, or outrage.
2. undisturbed; untouched.
3. unbroken.
4. not infringed.

inviolate

/ ɪnˈvaɪəlɪt; -ˌleɪt /

adjective

1. free from violation, injury, disturbance, etc
2. a less common word for inviolable

Derived Forms

• inˈviolacy, noun
• inˈviolately, adverb

Other Words From

• in·vi·o·la·cy [in-, vahy, -, uh, -l, uh, -see], in·vio·late·ness noun
• in·vio·late·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inviolate¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin inviolātus unhurt, inviolable. See in- ³, violate

Example Sentences

It's a simple and what should be an inviolate rule.

From Salon

It's a simple and what should be an inviolate rule.

From Salon

The right-wing position that life begins at conception and is inviolate logically requires this decision by the Alabama Supreme Court.

From Seattle Times

A jury’s acquittal is “inviolate” and cannot be reviewed, let alone overturned, by a higher court.

From Slate

Jackson, the first former public defender to serve on SCOTUS, served up a forceful rebuke to the Georgia judiciary’s attempt to undermine this “inviolate” principle.

From Slate

Related Words

• clean
• decent
• fresh
• good
• honest
• true