Irrecoverable: meaning, definitions and examples

💔
Add to dictionary

irrecoverable

 

[ ˌɪrɪˈkʌv(ə)rəb(ə)l ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

financial

Not able to be recovered, repaired, or restored.

Synonyms

irretrievable, unrecoverable, unrestorable.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
irrecoverable

Used when something cannot be regained or restored, often in legal or financial contexts.

  • The investments made in the bankrupt company were deemed irrecoverable.
  • The hard drive crash resulted in irrecoverable loss of data.
irretrievable

Usually used when something cannot be gotten back or recovered, often in emotional or serious life situations.

  • After the divorce, the irretrievable breakdown of their relationship was apparent.
  • The mishandling of the project led to irretrievable loss of trust.
unrecoverable

Typically used in computing or technical contexts, meaning that data or information cannot be restored.

  • The system crash resulted in unrecoverable files.
  • The corrupted backup files are now unrecoverable.
unrestorable

Used when something cannot be restored to its former condition, often relating to physical objects or health.

  • The ancient manuscript is unrestorable due to extensive water damage.
  • After the accident, his mobility was unfortunately unrestorable.

Examples of usage

  • The losses were deemed irrecoverable after the company went bankrupt.
  • The damage to the property was so severe that it was considered irrecoverable.
Context #2 | Adjective

emotional

Not able to be regained or restored, especially in terms of emotions or trust.

Synonyms

irremediable, irreparable, irretrievable.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
irrecoverable

This word is used when something cannot be recovered or gotten back, often in financial or environmental contexts.

  • The investments were deemed irrecoverable after the market crash.
  • The irrecoverable loss of biodiversity is a serious issue.
irretrievable

Commonly used when something cannot be retrieved or gotten back, often in terms of time or opportunities.

  • The lost time was irretrievable.
  • The document was accidentally deleted and deemed irretrievable.
irreparable

This word is used when damages or harm cannot be repaired, often in personal or emotional contexts.

  • The trust between them was irreparably broken.
  • The hurricane caused irreparable damage to the homes.
irremediable

Used when a situation or condition cannot be corrected or remedied, often in a medical or social context.

  • The disease had progressed to an irremediable stage.
  • The social harm caused by the injustice was deemed irremediable.

Examples of usage

  • The breach of trust was so severe that it left an irrecoverable scar.
  • The irrecoverable loss of a loved one can leave a lasting impact on one's emotions.

Translations

Translations of the word "irrecoverable" in other languages:

🇵🇹 irrecuperável

🇮🇳 अपरिवर्तनीय

🇩🇪 unwiederbringlich

🇮🇩 tidak dapat dipulihkan

🇺🇦 непоправний

🇵🇱 nieodwracalny

🇯🇵 回復不能

🇫🇷 irréparable

🇪🇸 irrecuperable

🇹🇷 geri kazanılamaz

🇰🇷 회복 불가능한

🇸🇦 غير قابل للاسترداد

🇨🇿 neobnovitelný

🇸🇰 neobnoviteľný

🇨🇳 不可恢复的

🇸🇮 nepovraten

🇮🇸 óendurheimtanlegur

🇰🇿 қалпына келмейтін

🇬🇪 უკანასკნელი

🇦🇿 geri qaytarılmayan

🇲🇽 irrecuperable

Etymology

The word 'irrecoverable' originated from the Latin word 'irrecuperabilis', which means 'not able to be regained'. It has been used in the English language since the 17th century. The prefix 'ir-' signifies 'not' or 'without', while 'recoverable' relates to the ability to regain something. Over time, 'irrecoverable' has come to be commonly used in financial and emotional contexts to describe losses or damages that cannot be recovered or restored.

See also: recoverable, recovering, recovery, unrecoverable.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,908, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.