English Reference
Adjective

irreparable

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ˌɪˈɹɛpɝəbəɫ/ UK /ɪɹˈɛpəɹəbəl/ ir·repara·ble

adj.describing something that cannot be fixed or repaired. If you make a mistake that is irreparable, it is impossible to change the situation back to how it was before.

adj.incapable of being restored to a former condition or state. Often used to describe damage, errors, or relationships that cannot be undone.


SIMPLE

The damage to the old bridge is irreparable.

CONTEXTUAL

The company's reputation suffered irreparable harm after the scandal broke in the national news.

COMPLEX

Legal scholars argue that the constitutional crisis caused irreparable harm to the separation of powers, making it impossible to restore the previous balance of authority.

For months, California has sought to stop Sable from moving oil through pipelines, describing the company’s actions as an “egregious trespass on public land” that would cause irreparable harm.

The Guardian· 21 Aug 2026

The president's legal team said disclosure of the financial records would cause him "irreparable harm".

BBC News· 15 Aug 2026

From Middle French irréparable, from Old French, from Latin irreparabilis, equivalent to ir- + reparable.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated