Words / B2

in-VAL-yoo-uh-bl/ɪnˈvæljuəbl/

Invaluable means extremely useful — so useful it is beyond price. It does not mean “not valuable”. Valuable is weaker; worthless is an opposite of valuable, not of invaluable. The archivist’s notes were invaluable. Classic exam trap. Do not write invaluable if you mean cheap or useless.

Meaning

Extremely useful; so useful you cannot put a price on it (not “worthless”).

Examples

• “The archivist’s notes were invaluable for the coursework appendix.”
• “An invaluable contact at the records office, which is the people sense.”

Good to know

invaluable for / to; invaluable + noun. Trap: not the opposite of valuable. Weaker: useful / valuable. Acknowledgements and evaluations. Priceless help.

Near in meaning

useful

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