irreversible

adjective

ir·​re·​vers·​ible ˌir-i-ˈvər-sə-bəl 

: not reversible

irreversibility

ˌir-i-ˌvər-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

irreversibly

ˌir-i-ˈvər-sə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms of irreversible

• irreparable

Examples of irreversible in a Sentence

He suffered an irreversible loss of vision.

The crisis has done irreversible harm to the countries' relations.

Recent Examples on the Web

Since 1991, the CDC has recommended universally vaccinating all infants against hepatitis B, a virus that can cause irreversible liver damage, at birth. —Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2025

The disease is preventable but irreversible and progressive, officials said. —Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 11 Dec. 2025

Jerrell is dealing with severe and potentially irreversible ocular damage. —Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 7 Dec. 2025

Our greatest fear is that something irreversible is being hidden from us. —Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for irreversible

• dispersible
• reversible
• submersible
• nonreimbursable
• reimbursable

Kids Definition

irreversible

adjective

ir·​re·​vers·​ible ˌir-i-ˈvər-sə-bəl 

: impossible to reverse

an irreversible chemical reaction

irreversible damage

irreversibility

-ˌvər-sə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

irreversibly

-ˈvər-sə-blē 

adverb

Medical Definition

irreversible

adjective

ir·​re·​vers·​ible ˌir-i-ˈvər-sə-bəl 

: incapable of being reversed : not reversible

an irreversible medical procedure

: as

a

: impossible to make run or take place backward

irreversible chemical syntheses

b

of a colloid : incapable of undergoing transformation from sol to gel or vice versa

c

of a pathological process : of such severity that recovery is impossible

irreversible brain damage

irreversibility

-ˌvər-sə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural irreversibilities

irreversibly

-ˈvər-sə-blē 

adverb

Legal Definition

irreversible

adjective

ir·​re·​ver·​si·​ble ˌir-rə-ˈvər-sə-bəl 

: not reversible

an irreversible decision