Irrecoverable
adjective
Something that cannot be regained, restored or retrieved.
The damage from the earthquake was irrecoverable.
Often appears as...
- irrecoverable loss
- irrecoverable data
adjective
In accounting, a debt or investment that cannot be collected or recovered.
The company wrote off the irrecoverable debt from their annual report.
Often appears as...
- irrecoverable debt
- irrecoverable investment
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
adjective
Something that cannot be regained, restored or retrieved.
The damage from the earthquake was irrecoverable.
Often appears as...
- irrecoverable loss
- irrecoverable data
adjective
In accounting, a debt or investment that cannot be collected or recovered.
The company wrote off the irrecoverable debt from their annual report.
Often appears as...
- irrecoverable debt
- irrecoverable investment
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Finality Implication
Often indicates that something is permanently gone with no hope of return.
After the fire, the family treasures were irrecoverable.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Weight
Used to express deep loss or irreversible damage, adding a sense of gravity.
The irrecoverable nature of the lost manuscripts saddened the historians.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Interchangeable
Don't confuse 'irrecoverable' with 'irreversible'; some irreversible things can be replaced.
The data was irrecoverable, but the hardware was replaceable.
Pro Tip 1/3Finality Implication
Often indicates that something is permanently gone with no hope of return.
After the fire, the family treasures were irrecoverable.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Weight
Used to express deep loss or irreversible damage, adding a sense of gravity.
The irrecoverable nature of the lost manuscripts saddened the historians.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Interchangeable
Don't confuse 'irrecoverable' with 'irreversible'; some irreversible things can be replaced.
The data was irrecoverable, but the hardware was replaceable.
Pro Tip 1/3Finality Implication
Often indicates that something is permanently gone with no hope of return.
After the fire, the family treasures were irrecoverable.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Weight
Used to express deep loss or irreversible damage, adding a sense of gravity.
The irrecoverable nature of the lost manuscripts saddened the historians.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Interchangeable
Don't confuse 'irrecoverable' with 'irreversible'; some irreversible things can be replaced.
The data was irrecoverable, but the hardware was replaceable.
Compare with
cureincorrigibleintractableirredeemableirremediableirreparableirretrievable
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Quote examples
Louis Leakey
British Scientist
I put a bullet into the back of the crocodile's neck just behind the head, thus killing it. If a crocodile is hit in any other part of its anatomy it disappears into the water and is irrecoverable.
Quote examples
Louis Leakey
British Scientist
I put a bullet into the back of the crocodile's neck just behind the head, thus killing it. If a crocodile is hit in any other part of its anatomy it disappears into the water and is irrecoverable.
Example 1 of 1
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