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

And, if it feels irreparable, Radhika says you shouldn't be afraid of calling time on the relationship.

From BBC

But in broadening the case, Lin agreed with plaintiffs that there would be irreparable harm if the suspensions were not immediately reversed.

From Los Angeles Times

But in saying she leaned toward broadening the case, Lin suggested she believed there would be irreparable harm if the suspensions were not immediately reversed.

From Los Angeles Times

Those rulings are most often given without explanation, but when one is offered, it’s usually to explain that the government would suffer irreparable harm if it isn’t allowed to proceed.

From Salon

But the Department of Justice argued even a brief limit on mass arrests constituted a “irreparable injury” to the government.

From Los Angeles Times

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.