Irretrievable: meaning, definitions and examples

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irretrievable

[ ɪˌrɪˈtriːvəbəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

data loss

Not able to be recovered or regained; lost beyond retrieval.

Synonyms

irrecoverable, irreparable, irreversible.

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Word Description / Examples
irretrievable

Used when something cannot be retrieved or recovered, often referring to situations, conditions, or objects that are lost forever.

  • The files were lost in an irretrievable manner after the system crash.
  • The antique vase shattered into irretrievable pieces.
irrecoverable

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

  • The investment was deemed irrecoverable after the company went bankrupt.
  • The insurance company decided that the costs were irrecoverable.
irreparable

Used to describe damage or harm that cannot be fixed or repaired, typically in emotional, human, or physical contexts.

  • The accident caused irreparable damage to his spinal cord.
  • Their friendship suffered irreparable harm due to the betrayal.
irreversible

Refers to actions or processes that cannot be reversed or undone, often used in scientific, environmental, or medical contexts.

  • Climate change has led to irreversible damage to coral reefs.
  • The decision to close the factory is irreversible.

Examples of usage

  • The irretrievable data was permanently lost.
  • The damage was irretrievable and could not be undone.

Translations

Translations of the word "irretrievable" in other languages:

🇵🇹 irrecuperável

🇮🇳 अप्राप्त

🇩🇪 unwiederbringlich

🇮🇩 tak dapat dipulihkan

🇺🇦 безповоротний

🇵🇱 nieodwracalny

🇯🇵 取り返しのつかない

🇫🇷 irrécupérable

🇪🇸 irrecuperable

🇹🇷 geri alınamaz

🇰🇷 돌이킬 수 없는

🇸🇦 غير قابل للاسترداد

🇨🇿 nenávratný

🇸🇰 nenávratný

🇨🇳 不可挽回的

🇸🇮 nepopravljiv

🇮🇸 óafturkræfur

🇰🇿 қалпына келмейтін

🇬🇪 უდაბრუნებელი

🇦🇿 geri qaytarılmayan

🇲🇽 irrecuperable

Etymology

The word 'irretrievable' originated in the early 17th century, derived from the prefix 'ir-' meaning 'not' or 'opposite of', and the word 'retrievable'. It is commonly used in contexts related to data loss, irreversible damage, or situations where something cannot be recovered or regained.

See also: irretrievably, retrievable, retrieval, retriever.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,364, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.