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

Is the plaintiff going to face irreparable harm, something that can’t be fixed in the period before the election, like someone being disenfranchised?

From Slate

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

Related Words

• irreplaceable
• irreversible