inalienable — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Not subject to being alienated, that is, surrendered, taken away, or transferred to another.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Synonyms

   unalienableindelibleunsurrenderablepermanent

   Antonyms

   alienable

   Examples

   Near-synonyms: indelible, unsurrenderable, permanent

   An inalienable right is a right that cannot be given away nor taken away.

   More examples (2)

   "Know thy own worth, and reverence the lyre," is a line that should be as a fillet bound round the brow—a philactory embroidered on the garments of every son and daughter of Adam distinguished by the possession of that sacred gift, which, whether used or abused, applauded in itself or derided in its possessor, is the highest and the most inalienable distinction humanity ever has or ever can be gifted with, whether bestowed on the highest or the humblest being, in the great mass to which we all belong.

   Liberalism in Struve's sense is above all a nominalist conception, rejecting the idea that any suprapersonal collective entity such as society or the state can claim to encroach upon the inalienable rights of the individual, his freedom and urge towards unlimited self-perfection.

2. Of or pertaining to a noun belonging to a special class in which the possessive construction differs from the norm, especially for particular familial relationships and body parts, regarding permanence.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Synonyms

   unalienable

   Antonyms

   alienable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Just as some languages have a "be" for permanent states (which are essential) and a different "be" for temporary states (which are incidental), some languages have a "have" for unchangeable possession (which is inalienable) and a different "have" for changeable possession (which is alienable).

Adjective

1. incapable of being repudiated or transferred to another

   Synonyms

   unalienable

   Antonyms

   alienable

   Examples

   endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights

2. not subject to forfeiture

   Synonyms

   unforfeitable

   Examples

   an unforfeitable right