# irreversible

/ˌɪɹɪˈvɝsəbəɫ/ (US) · /ɪɹɪvˈɜːsəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/irreversible
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

impossible to change back to how it was before. You use this to describe a choice or a physical change that is permanent.

For teachers: impossible to reverse, undo, or return to a previous condition. Often used in medical, environmental, or legal contexts to describe permanent consequences.

## Examples

- The damage to the old painting is irreversible.
- Scientists warn that the melting of the polar ice caps could reach an irreversible tipping point within decades.
- While some policy shifts are merely temporary adjustments, the constitutional amendment represents an irreversible change to the nation's legal framework that cannot be undone by a simple majority vote.

## Usage notes

- Often follows a linking verb like 'be', 'become', or 'seem'.

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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.