irrespective
Americanadjective
adjective
adverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of irrespective
First recorded in 1630–40; ir- 2 + respective
Explanation
The adverb irrespective means regardless or in spite, and it is almost always followed by the word "of." Irrespective of your desire to stay inside on a bitterly cold day, the dog still needs to be walked. Irrespective is a combination of the Latin roots ir, meaning not, and respectivus, meaning having regard for. The word irrespective is sometimes confused with its synonym regardless, giving rise in the early 20th century to the nonstandard word irregardless, which is considered an error by most grammarians, irrespective of how many people use irregardless in their everyday speech.
Vocabulary lists containing irrespective
Fences
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Vocabulary from the Magna Carta on its 800th Anniversary
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This Side of Wild
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Last week we argued that this could be an opportunity to add to these stocks and we believe that this call is relevant irrespective of where bond yields go from here,” they said.
From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026
However, this all pales in comparison to prime-aged fathers who have participation rates that frequently approach and surpass 95%, irrespective of their child’s age.
From Salon • May 10, 2026
South Africa's acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia also condemned the acts, saying that "no individual or group has the authority to take the law into their own hands, irrespective of grievances or frustrations".
From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026
This is the evidence Robinson believes can be England's X-factor at the World Cup, irrespective of those "purists" who may sniff at such an approach.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
But they did it, irrespective of me, and as we rode, the seeds for this book were planted.
From This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
