inviolabile

Inviolabile is an Italian adjective meaning something that cannot be violated or infringed, and by extension something sacred or untouchable. In everyday language it can describe personal dignity, confidentiality, or rights that deserve special protection. The term is often used in legal, political, and ethical contexts to emphasize the presumption that certain goods or freedoms should not be compromised.

In constitutional and legal usage, inviolabile denotes the strongest protection of fundamental rights. In Italy, Article 2 of the Constitution states that the Republic recognizes and guarantees the inviolable rights of the human person, both as an individual and as a member of a community. The term also appears in civil and criminal law to describe protections, such as personal liberty and human dignity, that are safeguarded against violation.

Etymology: inviolable comes from Latin inviolabilis, from in- "not" + violāre "to violate." The related noun inviolabilità denotes the state or quality of being inviolable. The English equivalent is inviolate. In practice, inviolabilità is often contrasted with violabilità, the possibility of violation, and is used to describe protections that are legally non-derogable in many jurisdictions.