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Glite Dictionary
inalienable

inalienable

17 8.0
A right that nobody can take away or give to someone else
  • adjective
  • /ɪˈneɪljənəbl/
  • Formal
: inalienable
  • And they have the same inalienable rights as human beings and citizens do.
  • inalienable right
  • inalienable rights to freedom
  • inalienable human rights

Do you think AI should have any inalienable rights?

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Examples

  • I believe women have an inalienable right to make decisions about their own bodies.

    Blog text (18)

  • Thank you, Mr. Rocca, for reminding us of our inalienable rights.

    Raw Deal (1986)

  • As soon as a second person appears, that person has inalienable rights, including the right to life.

    Blog text (2)

  • We have an inalienable right to defend ourselves.

  • We have certain rights which are inalienable.

    Hitler's Children (1943)

  • I believe that we live in a country that endows its citizens with certain inalienable rights.

    Academic text (1997)

  • By embracing the notion of rights as inalienable characteristics of a person, they have erected the first pillar of democracy.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The inherent and inalienable dignity of each citizen shall constitute a source of freedoms and rights that all public authorities are obliged to respect and protect.

    Dark Crimes (2016)

  • "We hold these truths to be self-evident, "that all men are created equal "and that they are endowed by their Creator "with certain inalienable rights that among these..."

    Jack and Jill vs. The World (2008)

  • We have an inalienable right to defend ourselves.

Synonyms

unalienable
vsinalienable
  • Formal
9 9.1

Cannot be taken away or given to another person

is the standard modern spelling for the same permanent rights meaning
inviolable
vsinalienable
  • Formal
5 8.6

Too important or sacred to be broken

focuses on being unable to be taken away or transferred, not sacredness
unassignable
vsinalienable
1 8.4

Cannot be given or sold to another person

also covers inability to be taken away or given away, not only transfer
unforfeitable
vsinalienable
  • Specialized
9.9

Not able to be taken away by law or contract

is broader, forbidding any taking away not only via forfeiture

Antonyms

transferable
7 3.9

Able to be given to another person, for example a ticket

alienable
  • Formal
1 9.4

Able to be sold or given to another person

How Transferable

transferable
7 3.9
inalienable
  • Formal
17 8.0

Surface Forms

inalienable positive

Morphology

inalienable = alienable (semi-transparent) = in + alien + able

For learners who know the legal adjective 'alienable', adding negative 'in-' straightforwardly gives 'not able to be transferred or given away'.

Etymology

Inalienable comes from in- 'not' and alien 'other' or 'belonging to someone else', so a helpful way to remember it is 'not able to be given away'. That's why inalienable describes rights or qualities that cannot be taken away or passed on to another person.