irreparable

[ih-rep-er-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. not reparable; incapable of being rectified, remedied, or made good.

   an irreparable mistake.

irreparable

/ ɪˈrɛpərəbəl, ɪˈrɛprəbəl /

adjective

1. not able to be repaired or remedied; beyond repair

Other Word Forms

• irreparability noun
• irreparableness noun
• irreparably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of irreparable¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Latin word irreparābilis. See ir- ², reparable

Example Sentences

The filing contends that the plaintiffs would suffer “immediate and irreparable harm if the status quo is not preserved during the pendency of this lawsuit.”

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“There is no doubt and it is beyond argument that irreparable harm will begin to occur if it hasn’t already occurred,” said McConnell, an Obama appointee.

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Mrs Howson, who works in a hospital, was told by her dentist that the gel had caused irreparable damage and only the removal of four teeth would stop the pain.

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By the end of the record, she makes it clear that the relationship is irreparable.

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With his bad back and kidney issues, Vahid seems fundamentally broken — his imprisonment clearly did irreparable harm — and he begins doubting himself.

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Related Words

• irreplaceable 
• irreversible 

When To Use

What’s the difference between irreparable and unrepairable?

Irreparable and unrepairable both mean just about the same thing: unable to be repaired or fixed.They can be used in overlapping ways, but they are usually used in different contexts and situations.Irreparable is the more commonly used word. It can be applied to objects, such as machines or appliances, that can’t be repaired, but it’s perhaps most commonly used in the context of intangible things like circumstances and relationships. It’s especially used with the word damage, as in I’m afraid I’ve done irreparable damage to my reputation or The iceberg caused irreparable damage to the ship’s hull.On the other hand, unrepairable is typically reserved for physical objects that can’t be fixed, such as cars, tables, or computers, as in I hate that a lot of appliances are manufactured in a way that makes them unrepairable. Still, unrepairable can also be applied to intangible things in the same way that irreparable usually is.Here’s an example of irreparable and unrepairable used correctly in a sentence.Example of irreparable: Sources close to the team say that the relationship between the coaches and the players is irreparable at this point.Example of unrepairable: I’m really hoping my mechanic doesn’t tell me my car is unrepairable—I really don’t want to buy a new one. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between irreparable and unrepairable.