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Glite Dictionary
inalienable

inalienable

18 8.0
A right that nobody can take away or give to someone else
  • adjective
  • /ɪˈneɪljənəbl/
  • Formal
translation icon : 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
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
8 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
8 3.9
inalienable
  • Formal
18 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.