irreparable

Irreparable is an adjective meaning not capable of being repaired, restored, or remedied. It can describe physical damage that cannot be fixed or figurative situations and relationships that cannot be repaired. The term implies permanence or incurability beyond ordinary repair.

Etymology shows that irreparable comes from the Latin irreparabilis, from reparare, meaning to repair, with the prefix in- negating the meaning. The suffix -abilis indicates capability, so irreparable literally means not repairable.

In legal contexts, irreparable harm or injury refers to damage that cannot be fully compensated by monetary damages alone, and which would justify injunctive relief. Courts often require showing irreparable harm in addition to likelihood of success on the merits for certain injunctions. The concept underscores that some harms are not readily remedied by money after the fact.

In everyday use, irreparable is common in discussions of environmental, moral, or reputational damage, and in describing losses or mistakes seen as beyond correction. The claim of irreparability may be contested, as some cases are argued to be remediable with sufficient time, resources, or changes.

See also: irreparably, reparable, repairability, irreversibility.