irreproachable

American  

[ir-i-proh-chuh-buhl] / ˌɪr ɪˈproʊ tʃə bəl /

adjective

1. free from blame; not able to be reproached or censured.

   Synonyms:

   unflawed, impeccable, blameless

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irreproachable British  

/ ˌɪrɪˈprəʊtʃəbəl /

adjective

1. not deserving reproach; blameless

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Other Word Forms

• irreproachability
  noun
• irreproachableness
  noun
• irreproachably
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of irreproachable

First recorded in 1625–35; ir- ² + reproachable ( def. )

Explanation

Use the adjective irreproachable to describe something or someone blameless or not deserving of criticism. It can be annoying, but your parents strive to give you irreproachable advice when they tell you, "Study hard in school," and not "Party on!" The adjective irreproachable comes from the Old French word reprocher, which meant "to blame." With the addition of the prefix ir-, meaning "not," and the suffix -able, meaning "capable," we get the English meaning of "not capable of being blamed." It is the rare politician who has an irreproachable reputation. So if your background is not irreproachable and you run for office, be prepared for the press to dig up all the skeletons in your closet.

Example Sentences

Irreproachable, a 4-year-old gelding, suffered a catastrophic injury during a workout Monday morning.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 24, 2020

Barbazan, a French general under Charles VI. and VII., who deservedly earned for himself the name of the Irreproachable Knight; d.

From The Nuttall Encyclopædia Being a Concise and Comprehensive Dictionary of General Knowledge by Nuttall, P. Austin

Irreproachable in her life, her virtues were not beautified by the divine gift of good humor; and she possessed no philosophy.

From Roman Women by Brittain, Alfred

Irreproachable boots, well made, well polished, unspotted by the world.

From The Divine Fire by Sinclair, May

Irreproachable in his own life, he condemned sin, but was merciful to the sinner.

From Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Dill, Samuel