invaluable

adjective

in·​valu·​able (ˌ)in-ˈval-yə-bəl 

-yə-wə-bəl,

-yü(-ə)-bəl

: valuable beyond estimation : priceless

providing invaluable assistance

invaluableness noun

invaluably

(ˌ)in-ˈval-yə-blē 

-yə-wə-blē

-yü(-ə)-blē

adverb

Did you know?

invaluable = valuable?

Many people find it confusing that the in- prefix at the beginning of invaluable apparently lacks the meaning "not" found in a number of other words, such as invalid, inarticulate, and insane. In fact, the prefix does indicate negation, but in a way that is not immediately obvious. The original (and current) meaning of invaluable is "valuable beyond estimation"; the word describes something so precious that one cannot assign a price to it. This, clearly, is the opposite of the meaning "having no value; valueless" that the word might seem to carry. Invaluable actually has been recorded in the sense "without value," but such use has been exceedingly rare and is practically nonexistent today.

Synonyms

• inestimable
• priceless

Examples of invaluable in a Sentence

Unfortunately, though, Sally does not respond to lithium, which has been invaluable for many patients with manic-depressive illness … —Oliver Sacks, New York Review of Books, 25 Sept. 2008

… the scrolls provide an invaluable snapshot of at least one important strain in early Judaism—though they are by no means a complete record of Jewish belief at that time. —Jeremy Lott, Lingua Franca, February 2001

I stayed there only a month or so but it was an invaluable experience …  : that month's residence provided the inspiration for a novel I wrote much later, Sophie's Choice. —William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982

Their help has been invaluable to us.

the list of likely donors proved to be invaluable to our fund-raising efforts

Recent Examples on the Web

Additionally, seeking mentorship and surrounding oneself with a supportive community can provide invaluable encouragement and validation. —King Holder, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2024

Cormier brings his wealth of experience to the Alta Academy, providing invaluable training resources for athletes of all levels. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

in- entry 1 + value, verb + -able

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

invaluable

adjective

in·​valu·​able (ˈ)in-ˈval-yə(-wə)-bəl 

: having value too great to be estimated

invaluably

-blē 

adverb