Words / C1

in-AYL-ee-uh-n-uh-bl/ɪnˈeɪliənəbl/

Inalienable means unable to be taken away or transferred, especially of rights: inalienable rights, an inalienable claim. Absolute is a cousin in force; a waiver on a poster is not a lawful surrender of a statutory rest break.

Meaning

Unable to be taken away or given up (formal, of a right).

Examples

• “A named invigilator is an inalienable condition of a valid sitting, not a slogan.”
• “An inalienable rest-break right is not waived by a foyer poster.”
• “Inviolable is the close twin. Absolute is a cousin. A poster is comms. A statutory break is a rota fact. Staff the break; hang the poster if it still matches the law.”

Good to know

Unable to be taken away (esp. rights). Close: inviolable. A poster ≠ a waiver.

Near in meaning

inviolable, absolute

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