Dictionary

inviolable en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ɪnˈvaɪələbl̩/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle French inviolable, from Latin inviolābilis (“untouchable”), from violō (“violate”). Equivalent to in- + violable. Piecewise doublet of unviolable.

Meanings

1. Not violable; not to be infringed.
   • "As defined by the first founders of Aya, this world and all who live on it agree to abide by the laws, customs, and regulations of a civilized society that has existed for centuries on other worlds. These rules of conduct ensure a voice for each family within our society and gives them certain inviolable rights..." 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Charter Governing Citizens of Aya, Revised, Task: Laws and Customs:
   • "Now, Mr. Jones, having obtained your promise of inviolable secrecy, I come down to the essential point." 1929, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, When the World Screamed:
   • But honeſt men’s words are Stygian oaths, and promiſes inviolable. a. 1682, Sir Thomas Browne, “Christian Morals”, in Henry Gardiner, editor, Religio Medici, together with a Letter to a Friend on the Death of His Intimate Friend and Christian Morals, London: W. Pickering, published 1845, part III, page 337:
   • But come, for thou, be ſure, ſhalt give account / To him who ſent us, whoſe charge is to keep / This place inviolable, and therefore theſe from harm. 1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 842–844:
   • One more request, and I am lost, / If you its earnest prayer deny ; / It is, that you preserve the most / Inviolable secrecy / As to my plan. 1828, Thomas Castaly, “The Recorder”, in Fanny with Other Poems, page 87:
2. Not susceptible to violence, or of being profaned, corrupted, or dishonoured.
3. Incapable of being injured or invaded; indestructible.

Forms

Antonyms

violable · breakable · violable · invadable · incompliable

Deriveds

inviolably · inviolableness · inviolability

Synonyms

sacred · holy · sacrosanct · unbreakable · unbreachable · inviolable · sacred · invincible · infrangible · sacrosanct · unassailable

Translations (38)

ga dosháraithe (incapable of being injured or invaded) · grc ἀάατος (not violable; not to be infringed) · uk непору́шний (not violable; not to be infringed) · de unverletzlich (not violable; not to be infringed) · nb ukrenkelig (not violable; not to be infringed) · es inviolable (not violable; not to be infringed) · ja 厳守の (not violable; not to be infringed) · ja 侵せない (incapable of being injured or invaded) · pt inviolável (incapable of being injured or invaded) · fr inviolable (not violable; not to be infringed) · cmn 不可侵犯 (incapable of being injured or invaded) · cmn 不可違反 /不可违反 (not violable; not to be infringed) · fi loukkaamaton (not violable; not to be infringed) · sh nepovrediv (incapable of being injured or invaded) · nn ukrenkeleg (not violable; not to be infringed) · ru неприкоснове́нный (not violable; not to be infringed) · bg неуязвим (incapable of being injured or invaded) · pl nietykalny (not violable; not to be infringed) · bg неприкосновен (not violable; not to be infringed) · ja 侵略できない (incapable of being injured or invaded) · pt inviolável (not violable; not to be infringed) · nn ukrenkjeleg (not violable; not to be infringed) · sh neprikosnoven (not violable; not to be infringed) · sh nenarušiv (not violable; not to be infringed) · sv okränkbar (not violable; not to be infringed) · grc ἀβέβηλος (not violable; not to be infringed) · ja 不可侵の (incapable of being injured or invaded) · pl nienaruszalny (not violable; not to be infringed) · mk неповредлив (not violable; not to be infringed) · pl nietykalny (incapable of being injured or invaded) · de unantastbar (not violable; not to be infringed) · fi koskematon (not violable; not to be infringed) · nl onschendbaar (not violable; not to be infringed) · ru неруши́мый (not violable; not to be infringed) · bg ненарушим (not violable; not to be infringed) · ja 破ってはならない (not violable; not to be infringed) · el απαράβατος (not violable; not to be infringed) · uk недоторка́нний (not violable; not to be infringed)