irreplaceable

irreplaceable

English

Etymology

    From ir- + replaceable.

    Pronunciation

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    Adjective

    irreplaceable (not comparable)

    1. Incapable of being replaced, especially because of uniqueness or finiteness.
      irreplaceable batteries
      irreplaceable family portrait
      irreplaceable team member
      • 1960, Economist Intelligence Unit (Great Britain), The Commonwealth and Europe (page 182)
        For some purposes lead is unique and, apparently, irreplaceable. Battery plates may be an example of this.
      • 2021 February 20, Hannah Selinger, “Who Is Still Buying VHS Tapes?”, in The New York Times[1], →ISSN, archived from the original on 28 March 2022:
        But whether or not the VCR makes a complete comeback, VHS enthusiasts agree that these tapes occupy an irreplaceable place in culture.

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