irrevocable

adjective

ir·​rev·​o·​ca·​ble i-ˈre-və-kə-bəl 

ˌi(r)-,

sometimes

ˌir-(r)ə-ˈvō-kə- 

: not possible to revoke : unalterable

an irrevocable decision

irrevocability

i-ˌre-və-kə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

ˌir-(r)ə-ˌvō-kə-

noun

irrevocableness

i-ˈre-və-kə-bəl-nəs 

ˌir-(r)ə-ˈvō-kə-

noun

irrevocably

i-ˈre-və-kə-blē 

ˌi(r)-

 sometimes  ˌir-(r)ə-ˈvō-kə-

adverb

Did you know?

Irrevocable and Trusts

Irrevocable has a formal sound to it and is often used in legal contexts. Irrevocable trusts are trust funds that cannot be dissolved by the people who created them (the other kind is a revocable trust). An irrevocable credit is an absolute obligation from a bank to provide credit to a customer. Irrevocable gifts, under U.S. tax law, are gifts that are given by one living person to another and can't be reclaimed by the giver. But the word isn't always legal; we've all had to make irrevocable decisions, decisions that commit us absolutely to something.

Examples of irrevocable in a Sentence

She has made an irrevocable decision.

Recent Examples on the Web

Some are even considering locking up their assets in various types of irrevocable trusts in advanced estate planning transactions without knowing what their exemption amount will be, which candidly is the current wise advice amongst the private wealth planning community. —Darren T. Case, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Here’s how to stay ahead: Trusts And Legal Structures Work with a knowledgeable professional to ensure your asset protection vehicles, such as irrevocable trusts or LLCs, are structured correctly to withstand regulatory scrutiny while achieving your protection goals. —Blake Harris, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

An irrevocable trust can’t be changed or revoked for the most part, though limited changes might be allowed. —Bob Carlson, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

But this unhappy, protracted breakup may have done irrevocable damage to his standing among Heat fans. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin irrevocabilis, from in- + revocabilis revocable

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for irrevocable

• revocable

Kids Definition

irrevocable

adjective

ir·​rev·​o·​ca·​ble (ˈ)ir-ˈ(r)ev-ə-kə-bəl 

: not capable of being revoked

an irrevocable decision

irrevocability

(ˌ)ir-ˌ(r)ev-ə-kə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

irrevocably

(ˈ)ir-ˈ(r)ev-ə-kə-blē 

adverb

Legal Definition

irrevocable

adjective

ir·​rev·​o·​ca·​ble ir-ˈre-və-kə-bəl 

: not capable of being revoked

the offer was irrevocable for ten days

irrevocability noun

irrevocably adverb