incorrigible

adjective

in·​cor·​ri·​gi·​ble (ˌ)in-ˈkȯr-ə-jə-bəl 

-ˈkär-

: incapable of being corrected or amended: such as

a(1)

: not reformable

an incorrigible criminal

(2)

: persistently guilty of misbehaving

incorrigible children

b

: not manageable : unruly

incorrigible hair

c

: unalterable, inveterate

an incorrigible optimist/prankster

an incorrigible habit of humblebragging

incorrigibility

(ˌ)in-ˌkȯr-ə-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

-ˌkär-

noun

incorrigible noun

incorrigibleness

(ˌ)in-ˈkȯr-ə-jə-bəl-nəs 

-ˈkär-

noun

incorrigibly

(ˌ)in-ˈkȯr-ə-jə-blē 

-ˈkär-

adverb

Did you know?

If incorrigible Is a Word, Is Corrigible a Word?

Incorrigible has been part of English since the 14th century. Back then, it was used to describe people who were morally depraved, but now it is most often applied to people who merely have bad habits. Is there a "corrigible?" Yes, indeed, we've used "corrigible" in the sense of "capable of being set right; reparable" (as in "a corrigible defect" and "a corrigible sinner") since the 15th century. Both words are from Latin corrigere, which means "to correct" and which is also the source of our word correct.

Synonyms of incorrigible

• hopeless
• incurable

Examples of incorrigible in a Sentence

The incorrigible maleness of men is a standing rebuke to the Rousseau-inspired notions of human moral plasticity that are central to liberalism. —Richard Lowry, National Review, 3 July 2000

At the heart of Roosevelt's style in foreign affairs was a certain incorrigible amateurism. His off-the-cuff improvisations, his airy tendency to throw out half-baked ideas, caused others to underrate his continuity of purpose … —Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., American Heritage, May/June 1994

Eating fugu … is an exotic custom that probably would appeal to every incorrigible mountain climber, skydiver and bungee-jumper in America. Why? The fugu is poisonous—and there's no antidote. —Max Friedman, Vegetarian Times, October 1993

Yes, this is a book about America … all seen through the fairy-book life of an incorrigible kid, abandoned by his parents and brought up in a reformatory … —Stephen Jay Gould, New York Times Book Review, 7 May 1989

an incorrigible habit of playing practical jokes

He is always the class clown and his teachers say he is incorrigible.

Recent Examples on the Web

Mary Roy, too, married to flee violence—her father, a civil servant under the British, beat his wife and whipped his children—only to find that her husband was an incorrigible drunk. —Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025

Who was this alien observer, whose gaze made me into a (slightly) better person, whose gaze (slightly) reduced my incorrigible self-centeredness? —Michael W. Clune, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025

They were joined by dozens of other performers across the rock ’n’ roll spectrum, from the hard-stomping Fleshtones to the incorrigible Supersuckers, to Tommy Stinson’s Bash & Pop, to the ageless Linda Gail Lewis — younger sister of music icon Jerry Lee Lewis. —Jim Ruland, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025

Even from beyond the grave, that man proves to be incorrigible in his audacity. —Ayan Artan, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin incorrigibilis, from Latin in- + corrigere to correct — more at correct

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

incorrigible

1 of 2 adjective

in·​cor·​ri·​gi·​ble

(ˈ)in-ˈkȯr-ə-jə-bəl,

-ˈkär-

: not able to be corrected or reformed

an incorrigible gambler

incorrigible

2 of 2 noun

: an incorrigible person