# irrespective

/ˌɪɹəˈspɛktɪv/ (US) · /ɪɹɪspˈɛktɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/irrespective
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. regardless of something

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal

used to say that something happens or is true without being affected by other things.

For teachers: functioning to indicate that a situation exists or an action occurs without regard to specific conditions or consequences.

- The rules apply to everyone, irrespective of how much money they have.
- The foundation provides medical assistance to all refugees irrespective of their country of origin or political affiliation.

Usage: Almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase 'irrespective of' followed by a noun or noun phrase.

Teaching tip: While technically an adverb, it is best taught to students as a complex preposition ('irrespective of') similar to 'regardless of'.

### 2. not influenced by circumstances

adjective · CEFR C2 · Formal · Academic

not influenced by or not considering specific conditions.

For teachers: independent of or not taking into account particular circumstances or conditions; often used in philosophical or legal contexts.

- The judge made an irrespective decision based only on the evidence.
- The committee sought to reach an irrespective conclusion, setting aside their personal biases to focus on the data.

Usage: Rarely used as a standalone adjective in modern English; usually appears in academic or legal writing.

Teaching tip: This adjective use is quite rare; students will mostly encounter the adverbial phrase 'irrespective of'.

## Examples

- Everyone can join the club irrespective of their age.
- The company decided to promote the most qualified candidate irrespective of how long they had been with the firm.
- The law mandates that emergency services must provide assistance to any person in immediate danger irrespective of their legal status or ability to pay for the treatment received.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.