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

Rizzo noted that the vision loss from the condition tends to be irreversible and can become progressively worse, even if a patient stops taking the medication. — CBS News, 9 Nov. 2026

Every additional fraction of a degree will increase those losses and the risk of crossing irreversible tipping points. — Laurence Tubiana, Time, 6 Nov. 2026

Reyes subsequently issued a preliminary injunction preventing further tree removal without court approval and requiring the administration to provide advance notice before closing the course or making irreversible changes to the property. — Chris Matthews, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2026

The new session, starting in January, is its chance to use them before the damage becomes irreversible. — Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2026

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