ENGLISH
REFERENCE

irreplaceable

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌɪɹəˈpɫeɪsəbəɫ// UK //ɪɹɪplˈeɪsəbəl// ir·re·place·able

adj. describing something or someone so special or unique that they cannot be replaced if lost.

adj. impossible to replace if lost or damaged; unique in value or significance. Often used to describe people with unique skills or items of immense sentimental or historical value.


SIMPLE

This old family photo is irreplaceable.

CONTEXTUAL

The museum lost several irreplaceable artifacts during the flood last winter.

COMPLEX

While most equipment in the laboratory can be reordered, the decades of handwritten research notes are entirely irreplaceable and must be stored in a fireproof safe.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From ir- + replaceable.

Usage

Typically used as a predicative adjective after 'be' or 'seem', or as an attributive adjective before a noun.

Pitfall

an unreplaceable lossan irreplaceable lossWhile 'un-' is a common prefix for negation, 'irreplaceable' is the standard form for this specific word.

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