inviolate
Americanadjective
-
free from violation, injury, desecration, or outrage.
-
undisturbed; untouched.
-
not infringed.
adjective
-
free from violation, injury, disturbance, etc
-
a less common word for inviolable
Other Word Forms
- inviolacy noun
- inviolately adverb
- inviolateness noun
Etymology
Origin of inviolate
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin inviolātus unhurt, inviolable. See in- 3, violate
Explanation
If something’s inviolate, it’s sacred and must be protected. If you make an inviolate promise to your sister to never reveal her secret superhero identity, it's one you must honor and take very seriously. Inviolate comes from the Latin word inviolatus, made up of in-, meaning “not” and violare, meaning “violate.” So inviolate describes something so sacred or pure that it must not be violated. It can be used to describe fundamental principles or rights, such as the inviolate right of free speech, but it can also describe things that must be kept safe and pure. You might believe that the natural coastline outside your city should remain inviolate and not be developed.
Vocabulary lists containing inviolate
1984
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Jane Eyre
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Marita's Bargain," Vocabulary from the essay
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
If people can’t trust Social Security to keep their privacy inviolate, confidence in the entire program may well be shattered.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026
A last bastion of privacy, our brains have remained inviolate, even as sensors now record our heartbeats, breaths, steps and sleep.
From Scientific American • Mar. 27, 2023
If she was not an immaculate dove in those days, she was still inviolate; a passionate creature whose very defenselessness had made her defense, against which his honor forbade him to prevail.
From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021
“The sanctity, the security and the dignity of my family are inviolate, and we are not leaving,” he said.
From Washington Post • Mar. 15, 2021
Now he had retreated a step further: in the mind he had surrendered, but he had hoped to keep the inner heart inviolate.
From "1984" by George Orwell
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.
