incorrigible

[ in-kawr-i-juh-buh l, -kor- ]

/ ɪnˈkɔr ɪ dʒə bəl, -ˈkɒr- /

adjective

not corrigible; bad beyond correction or reform: incorrigible behavior; an incorrigible liar.

impervious to constraints or punishment; willful; unruly; uncontrollable: an incorrigible child; incorrigible hair.

firmly fixed; not easily changed: an incorrigible habit.

not easily swayed or influenced: an incorrigible optimist.

noun

a person who is incorrigible.

Nearby words

Origin of incorrigible

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English word from Latin word incorrigibilis. See in-³, corrigible

Related formsin·cor·ri·gi·bil·i·ty, in·cor·ri·gi·ble·ness, nounin·cor·ri·gi·bly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for incorrigibly

Whereas with San Fran you sort of feel, well, life is so incorrigibly wonderful out there, they don't really need this.
My Annual Super Bowl Rant|Michael Tomasky|February 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Poor Evan Evans was mentioned, as incorrigibly addicted to strong drink.
Life Of Johnson, Volume 5|Boswell
She was not by nature vicious, but she was most incorrigibly mischievous.
Hot corn: Life Scenes in New York Illustrated|Solon Robinson
This kind of forced labour may do some good to the incorrigibly idle, but it does the greatest harm to all the rest.
The Contemporary Review, Volume 36, November 1879|Various

Hadria was incorrigibly flippant about the banishment of important local subjects.
The Daughters of Danaus|Mona Caird
The man was not an incorrigibly bad doer, but weak and irresolute.
Johnny Ludlow, Third Series|Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for incorrigibly

incorrigible

/ (ɪnˈkɒrɪdʒəbəl) /

adjective

beyond correction, reform, or alteration

firmly rooted; ineradicable

philosophy (of a belief) having the property that whoever honestly believes it cannot be mistakenCompare defeasible

noun

a person or animal that is incorrigible

Derived Formsincorrigibility or incorrigibleness, nounincorrigibly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for incorrigibly

incorrigible

adj.

mid-14c., from Old French incorrigible (mid-14c.), or directly from Latin incorrigibilis "not to be corrected," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + corrigibilis, from corrigere "to correct" (see correct). Related: Incorrigibly. As a noun, from 1746.