What does inviolable mean?
Inviolable is an emphatic adjective meaning that something must not, or cannot, be broken, violated, or disregarded. It is often applied to rights, rules, principles, boundaries, and promises, especially where the subject is protected by law, morality, religion, or a formal agreement. The word carries a strong sense of absolute protection: an inviolable rule is not merely one that people rarely break, but one that is regarded as beyond legitimate interference. In everyday writing, it can sound formal or rhetorical, so it is especially appropriate in legal, political, constitutional, and ethical contexts. Its close relative, inviolate, focuses on the condition of remaining unbroken or untouched, while inviolable describes the status of something that must remain unbroken. The noun inviolability refers to the quality or state of being inviolable.
adjectiveNot able or permitted to be violated, broken, or disregarded. It describes principles, rules, rights, or boundaries that are regarded as inviolable.
- Not able or permitted to be violated, broken, or disregarded.
"The court upheld the constitution's inviolable right to freedom of expression."
"The agreement established an inviolable boundary between the two communities."
"She regarded her professional ethics as inviolable."
Inviolable is a strong word for principles that are not merely protected but considered beyond tampering.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does inviolable come from?
Inviolable comes from the Latin inviolabilis, formed from in-, meaning “not,” and violare, meaning “to violate, injure, or treat with violence.” English borrowed the word in the 17th century, initially with meanings connected with something that cannot be violated or broken. It belongs to the same Latin family as violate, violation, and violable.
Related word forms
How inviolable is actually used
Formal and emphatic. It is commonly used for moral, legal, constitutional, religious, or political principles and boundaries. The related noun is inviolability, and the adverb is inviolably.
Easily confused with inviolable
Inviolable describes something that must not or cannot be violated, whereas inviolate describes something that has not been violated or remains intact.