irrespective
Americanadjective
adjective
adverb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of irrespective
First recorded in 1630–40; ir- 2 + respective
Explanation
The adverb irrespective means regardless or in spite, and it is almost always followed by the word "of." Irrespective of your desire to stay inside on a bitterly cold day, the dog still needs to be walked. Irrespective is a combination of the Latin roots ir, meaning not, and respectivus, meaning having regard for. The word irrespective is sometimes confused with its synonym regardless, giving rise in the early 20th century to the nonstandard word irregardless, which is considered an error by most grammarians, irrespective of how many people use irregardless in their everyday speech.
Vocabulary lists containing irrespective
Fences
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Vocabulary from the Magna Carta on its 800th Anniversary
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This Side of Wild
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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.
Irrespective of Max's pedigree as a multiple world champion, bringing him in to replace George would be incredibly harsh on a driver who has performed pretty much flawlessly so far this year.
From BBC • Jul. 1, 2025
Irrespective of what the samples are showing, they provide evidence that the virus is circulating somewhere in the environment.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2025
Irrespective of how transparently uncredible Davidson may seem, this was the first time that the defense began to present something that may be compelling to this jury as a reason to vote to acquit.
From Slate • May 5, 2024
"Irrespective of the vote, the AWG stands fully behind its proposal," Waters said.
From Salon • Apr. 14, 2024
“And I can also direct it, within certain limits. Irrespective of where it’s aimed.”
From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
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.
