irreversible

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˌɪrɪˈvɜrsəbəl/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Not able to be undone, reversed, or returned to a previous state or condition.; (Thermodynamics) Describing a process that cannot be reversed without leaving a net change in the system or surroundings.; (Chemistry) Describing a reaction that proceeds in one direction only and does not reach equilibrium with the reverse reaction.; (Medicine) Describing a condition or change that cannot be cured or restored to normal.

🔗 Details

Word forms

Comparative: more irreversible Superlative: most irreversible

Collocations

irreversible damageirreversible changeirreversible processirreversible declineirreversible trendirreversible loss

Derivatives

irreversiblyirreversibilityreversiblereversereversal

Synonyms

permanentirrevocablefinalunalterableirremediableincurable

Antonyms

reversibletemporaryrevocable

Commonly confused

irrevocable
EN: 'Irrevocable' typically refers to decisions, commitments, or legal acts that cannot be withdrawn; 'irreversible' refers to processes or changes that cannot be undone.
irremediable
EN: 'Irremediable' emphasizes that something cannot be fixed or corrected; 'irreversible' emphasizes that something cannot be returned to its prior state.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the prefix 'ir-' (assimilated form of 'in-') before 'r', resulting in double 'r': 'irreversible', not 'inreversible' or 'ireversible'.

💬 Examples

  1. The patient suffered irreversible brain damage due to lack of oxygen.

  2. Heat transfer across a finite temperature difference is an irreversible process.

  3. The combustion of gasoline is essentially an irreversible reaction.

  4. The doctor confirmed that the damage to the optic nerve was irreversible.