irrecoverable

adjective

ir·​re·​cov·​er·​able ˌir-i-ˈkə-v(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce irrecoverable (audio)
: not capable of being recovered or rectified : irreparable
an irrecoverable loss
irrecoverableness noun
irrecoverably adverb

Examples of irrecoverable in a Sentence

unfortunately, he was destined to live out his days as an irrecoverable alcoholic one computer file proved to be irrecoverable after the crash
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Broadly speaking, this is probably not irrecoverable damage to the ecosystem. Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 19 July 2025 Aviation experts have said a preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) raised questions over whether one of the pilots of Air India flight 171 cut off fuel to the Boeing 787's engines seconds after takeoff, leading to an irrecoverable situation. Dan Catchpole, USA Today, 18 July 2025 Aviation experts have said a preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) raised questions over whether one of the pilots of Air India flight 171 cut off fuel to the Boeing 787’s engines seconds after takeoff, leading to an irrecoverable situation. Reuters, CNN Money, 16 July 2025 Crestfallen fans have begun demanding refunds for hundreds of dollars in ticket purchases to defray irrecoverable travel and lodging costs. Jia H. Jung, Mercury News, 11 July 2025 Customs Duty, which is irrecoverable. Import VAT, which can be reclaimed, provided correct steps are taken. Robert Marchant, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 The contents of the time capsule may become irrecoverable. Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 Half of it goes to the nearby Hardy River, in an attempt to revive ecosystems that were thought to be irrecoverable. Geraldine Castro, Wired News, 23 Apr. 2025 During the Kursk operation, the enemy has already lost over 38,000 soldiers in this single direction alone, with approximately 15,000 of them irrecoverable losses. Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of irrecoverable was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Irrecoverable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irrecoverable. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

irrecoverable

adjective
ir·​re·​cov·​er·​able ˌir-i-ˈkəv-(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce irrecoverable (audio)
: not capable of being recovered or made right
an irrecoverable loss
irrecoverably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on irrecoverable

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