irreparable

American  

[ih-rep-er-uh-buhl] / ɪˈrɛp ər ə bəl /

adjective

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

   an irreparable mistake.

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irreparable British  

/ ɪˈrɛpərəbəl, ɪˈrɛprəbəl /

adjective

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

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• irreparability
  noun
• irreparableness
  noun
• irreparably
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of irreparable

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

Explanation

If something is broken or destroyed for good — a toy, a relationship, a pair of pants — you can say it is irreparable or unable to be repaired. When you get into a fight with your best friend, it sometimes feels like the damage to the relationship has been irreparable, but given some time, good friendships can come back from even the worst type of damage. Though irreparable looks like it might be pronounced ir-re-PAIR-able, it's usually pronounced ir-REP-ar-able.

Example Sentences

And certainly, the kind of extreme, celebrity-endorsed diet hack that would have done irreparable damage to my younger self’s own body image and understanding of healthy eating.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

"The resulting chaos for patients, providers, pharmacies, and the drug-regulatory system is a quintessential irreparable harm that underscores the need for emergency relief from this Court."

From Barron's • May 2, 2026

El Segundo-based DirecTV separately sued, alleging the combination of the nation’s two largest television station groups would do irreparable harm to its pay-TV business by raising prices and potentially increasing programming blackouts.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Protecting the California parents while the litigation proceeds, she says, “reflects the Court’s judgment about the risk of irreparable harm.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

Abraham Lincoln had been senselessly slain by the hand of a madman, and Jethro Creighton, with all the people of his time, had suffered an irreparable loss.

From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt

Related Words

• irreplaceable
• irreversible