Dönülemez

Dönülemez is a Turkish adjective meaning not reversible or irreversible. The term describes something that cannot be returned to its original state through normal processes; restoring it would require external intervention or a fundamental change. It is used in both scientific contexts and everyday language, and its noun form is dönülemezlik.

Etymology: The word is formed from the verb dönmek (to turn or change) with negation and a form that expresses inability, yielding a sense of “not able to be turned back.” Related noun forms include dönülemezlik, and related phrases use dö(n)üşümlü or reversible concepts in opposition.

Usage: In science, dönülemez süreç or dönülemezlik is common in discussions of thermodynamics, chemistry and physics to describe processes where the final state cannot easily be restored to the initial one, often due to energy dispersion, entropy increase, or lasting structural change. In everyday language, it can describe irreversible decisions or events with lasting effects, such as irreversible damage or irreversible outcomes. The opposite concept is expressed with terms like dönüştürülebilir or geri dönüşümlü (reversible).

Notes: Turkish speakers may also use alternatives such as geri dönüşümü olmayan to convey irreversibility in non-technical contexts. Dönülemezlik as a noun refers to the property of being irreversible and is used across both formal and informal registers.