invaluable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of invaluable
First recorded in 1570–80; in- 3 + valuable, in obsolete sense “capable of valuation”
Explanation
If you're robbed, much of what is stolen can be replaced. All you need is the cash value of what was lost. But some things––family photos, heirloom jewelry––are invaluable, meaning extremely valuable, or priceless. At first glance, you would think that invaluable means "not valuable." But to understand its meaning, you'd have to know that it was formed from the prefix in- "not" plus the verb value, plus the suffix –able "able to be." So something invaluable has such great value that its value can't be calculated.
Vocabulary lists containing invaluable
Mandela's Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Address
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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
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The Magic Fish
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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.
Travel insurance can be invaluable if your trip is interrupted or cancelled.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
Goalkeepers often age differently than outfield players, and — if given the opportunity — Guillermo Ochoa’s experience in major tournaments could be invaluable for a Mexican team playing all of its group-stage matches at home.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026
Decades of geological records, subsurface physics, and mechanical telemetry are proving invaluable for asset management and monitoring, along with enabling advanced autonomous drilling capabilities.
From Barron's • May 28, 2026
“But they have an invaluable role to play in Cuba’s economic and political reconstruction.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026
This would be Janice’s first time in an integrated setting—her first time away from her hometown, in fact—but Mary believed she would be up for the challenge and find it an invaluable experience.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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.
