nietherstelbaar

Nietherstelbaar is a Dutch adjective meaning not able to be repaired or restored. It describes damage, losses, or states that cannot be reversed or brought back to their previous condition. The term is typically written as niet-herstelbaar or niet herstelbaar in standard Dutch; the concatenated form nietherstelbaar is less common and often considered nonstandard or informal.

Etymology and nuance: It is formed from niet (not) and herstelbaar (repairable). The phrase aligns with other compounds using niet to negate a property. In everyday language, onherstelbaar is more common for irreversible outcomes, while niet-herstelbaar can be used for emphasis or particular stylistic reasons.

Usage: The term appears in engineering and conservation to denote irreparable damage to materials or artifacts; in ecology to describe irreversible degradation; and in medical or legal contexts to indicate outcomes that cannot be reversed. In many contexts, onherstelbaar is the more standard word for irreversible harm, with niet-herstelbaar serving as a variant.

Examples: De schade aan het beeld is niet-herstelbaar. De aanpak leidt tot onherstelbaar verlies van biodiversiteit.

See also: onherstelbaar; irreparable; irreversible.