irrecoverable
Americanadjective
-
incapable of being recovered or regained.
an irrecoverable debt.
-
unable to be remedied or rectified; irretrievable.
an irrecoverable loss.
adjective
-
not able to be recovered or regained
-
not able to be remedied or rectified
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of irrecoverable
First recorded in 1530–40; ir- 2 + recoverable
Vocabulary lists containing irrecoverable
"What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" Vocabulary from the speech
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!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: in-, im-, il-, ir-
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!
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.
There is always something theatrical about politics, especially in countries like Hungary, where memories of a glorious but irrecoverable past dominate the public imagination.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026
They "used to go to places and bring back plants from areas where those forests are no longer there", making those replanted at the Kyiv garden susceptible to "irrecoverable losses".
From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026
State Historic Park, is irrecoverable due to toxification from the fire.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2025
Prince Andrew's involvement with an alleged Chinese spy came at a time his chief aide and other royals believed his reputation was "irrecoverable".
From BBC ● Apr. 4, 2025
I went back to my seat, knowing I’d made an irrecoverable mess of things.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
