inapplicable

American  

[in-ap-li-kuh-buhl] / ɪnˈæp lɪ kə bəl /

adjective

1. not applicable; unsuitable.

   Synonyms:

   inapposite, irrelevant

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inapplicable British  

/ ˌɪnəˈplɪk-, ɪnˈæplɪkəbəl /

adjective

1. not applicable or suitable; irrelevant

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Other Word Forms

• inapplicability
  noun
• inapplicableness
  noun
• inapplicably
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of inapplicable

First recorded in 1650–60; in- ³ + applicable

Explanation

If something's inapplicable, it's irrelevant or unsuited. Laws that affect adults over the age of 18 are often inapplicable to children and young teenagers. Even if something is true in one situation, it might not work or fit in another situation — it's inapplicable. A list of plants that grow easily in your aunt's garden in Hawaii will probably be inapplicable to your garden in New Hampshire. This adjective combines the "not" prefix in- and applicable, from the Latin applicare, "connect" or "join."

Example Sentences

He correctly recognized that he was bound by precedent to reject Trump's request that he hold Sullivan inapplicable in his case.

From Salon • Jul. 31, 2023

“As Richard Prince makes individual paintings and does not license his works, the holding in Warhol is clearly inapplicable to his New Portraits litigation,” he said.

From New York Times • May 22, 2023

The PPA’s narrow exceptions for exigent circumstances or journalists suspected of personally committing criminal offenses are plainly inapplicable here.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2022

Stephen Stokes, an attorney for the Idaho Military Division, said the statute is “unnecessary” and inapplicable to the Idaho Military Division.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 25, 2022

For the message that it was occasionally necessary to send, there were printed postcards with long lists of phrases, and you struck out the ones that were inapplicable.

From "1984" by George Orwell