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irreplaceable

/ˌˈɪ(r)rəˌpleɪsəbəl/
/ɪrəˈpleɪsəbəl/
IPA guide

Other forms: irreplaceably

The adjective irreplaceable describes anything that's one of a kind, particularly if it has deep sentimental value to you, like your grandmother's irreplaceable engagement ring.

When you replace something, you get something that's just like it, but if something is irreplaceable, there's just no substitute. It might be a special thing given to you by a loved one, like your great-grandfather's pocket watch or something that can't be made again, like an irreplaceable painting or an old floor made from a species of wood that's no longer harvested.

Definitions of irreplaceable
  1. adjective
    impossible to replace
    irreplaceable antiques”
    synonyms: unreplaceable
    unexpendable
    not suitable to be expended
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    replaceable
    capable of being replaced
    expendable
    suitable to be expended
    exchangeable, interchangeable, similar, standardised, standardized
    capable of replacing or changing places with something else; permitting mutual substitution without loss of function or suitability
Pronunciation
US
/ˌˈɪ(r)rəˌpleɪsəbəl/
UK
/ɪrəˈpleɪsəbəl/
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