What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
irrecoverable
Example
The company suffered an irrecoverable loss due to the pandemic. [irrecoverable: adjective]
Example
The data was irrecoverable after the hard drive crashed. [irrecoverable: adjective]
unrecoverable
Example
The file was unrecoverable after the computer crashed. [unrecoverable: adjective]
Example
The damage to the painting was unrecoverable despite the restoration efforts. [unrecoverable: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unrecoverable is more commonly used than irrecoverable in everyday language. Unrecoverable is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while irrecoverable is less common and tends to be used in more formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between irrecoverable and unrecoverable?
While both words can be used in formal or informal contexts, irrecoverable is generally associated with a more formal tone due to its less common usage and Latin origin.
