What does inapplicable mean?
Inapplicable means that something cannot be applied to a particular person, situation, or case. It is especially common when discussing rules, regulations, principles, or procedures whose conditions are not met in the circumstances at hand. For example, a clause may be inapplicable to a particular transaction even though it remains valid for others. The word is more precise than irrelevant: an inapplicable rule may still matter in general, but it cannot be used in the specific case under consideration. Inapplicability is likewise the condition of being unable to apply a rule or principle, while inapplicably is the corresponding adverb. Although applicable is its direct grammatical opposite, inapplicable should not be treated as a universal substitute for unrelated or irrelevant, since those words focus on connection and significance rather than the possibility of application.
adjectiveNot applicable or relevant to a particular case, person, or situation. It is used especially of rules, principles, or provisions that cannot be applied in the circumstances under consideration.
- Not applicable to a particular case, circumstance, or person; irrelevant or incapable of being applied.
"The committee ruled that the existing exemption was inapplicable to the new application."
"The restriction was held to be inapplicable to companies operating outside the country."
"His training proved inapplicable to the unfamiliar machinery in the workshop."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does inapplicable come from?
Inapplicable was formed in English by adding the Latin-derived prefix in-, meaning “not,” to applicable. Applicable, in turn, comes from Latin applicare, meaning “to apply, fasten, or bring into contact,” through the Latin adjective applicabilis, “applicable.” The negative form became established in English during the early modern period and was initially especially associated with legal and administrative language.
Related word forms
How inapplicable is actually used
Chiefly formal, and especially common in legal, administrative, and technical contexts. It describes something that cannot be applied to the relevant case, rather than merely something that is unimportant.
Easily confused with inapplicable
An applicable rule can be used in a particular case, whereas an inapplicable rule cannot be applied to that case.