adj · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK:/ɪˈneɪ.lɪ.ə.nə.bəl/
US:/ɪˈneɪ.li.ə.nə.bəl/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:IH2 N EY1 L Y AH0 N AH0 B AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Not subject to being alienated, that is, surrendered, taken away, or transferred to another.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
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).
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: unalienable
Antonyms: alienable
3
adjective
Meaning 3
incapable of being repudiated or transferred to another
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: unalienable
Antonyms: alienable
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
not subject to forfeiture
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an unforfeitable right
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: unforfeitable
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Borrowed around 1645 from French inaliénable, from in- + aliénable (“alienable”), equivalent to in- + alienable.
Across languages
Translations
26 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
անօտարելի
(anōtareli)
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Azerbaijani:
ayrılmaz
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Bulgarian:
непрехвърляем
(neprehvǎrljaem)
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Catalan:
inalienable
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Chinese Mandarin:
不可转让的
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Czech:
nezcizitelný
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Dutch:
onvervreemdbaar
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Finnish:
erottamaton
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
French:
inaliénable
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
German:
unabdingbar
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Greek:
αναφαίρετος
(anafaíretos)
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Hebrew:
שאין להעבירו לאחר
(she'éin leha'aviró leakhér)
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Hungarian:
elidegeníthetetlen
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Italian:
inalienabile
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Latin:
inaliēnābilis
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Macedonian:
нео́туѓив
(neótuǵiv)
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Manx:
neuchaghlaaee
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Polish:
niezbywalny
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Portuguese:
inalienável
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Russian:
неотчужда́емый
(neotčuždájemyj)
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Russian:
неотъе́млемый
(neotʺjémlemyj)
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Scottish Gaelic:
do-dhealachaidh
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Spanish:
inalienable
— incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable
Portuguese:
inalienável
— grammar: of a noun class belonging to a special class
Scottish Gaelic:
do-dhealaichte
— grammar: of a noun class belonging to a special class
Swedish:
oförytterlig
— grammar: of a noun class belonging to a special class
