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Glite Dictionary
unalienable

unalienable

9 9.1
Cannot be taken away or given to another person
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌnˈeɪliənəbl/
  • Formal
: inalienable
  • All American citizens possessed pre-political rights, including an unalienable right to liberty.
  • unalienable rights
  • unalienable rights to life

So the idea that rights are unalienable seems to distance Lot from the libertarian.

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Examples

  • The rights of man flow from the laws of nature itself, and as such are natural, unalienable, and essential to meaningful existence.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Something more was at stake—the unalienable, natural rights of man, as enshrined in the Declaration of Independence.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Which principle had priority, that of "consent" or that of "unalienable rights"?

    Academic text (2000)

  • We are born with unalienable rights and you are stomping on them.

    H3 Podcast

  • "All men are created equal, "endowed with certain unalienable rights.

    Blood Freak (1972)

  • As such, individuals have the unalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

    Blog text (33)

  • The Declaration takes its bearings from the idea of certain unalienable rights.

    Academic text (1998)

  • This note was the promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

  • In 1776, we laid the foundation of a regime that would secure our unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

    Academic text (2002)

  • The Declaration of Independence states that all individuals have certain unalienable rights that cannot be taken away.

Synonyms

inalienable
vsunalienable
  • Formal
17 8.0

A right that nobody can take away or give to someone else

focuses on both being untakeable and not transferable to others
sacrosanct
vsunalienable
  • Formal
13 9.1

Too important to change or question

is less about sacredness and more about legal nonremovability and nontransfer
inviolable
vsunalienable
  • Formal
5 8.6

Too important or sacred to be broken

is more legal and factual, stressing nontransfer and nonremoval
indefeasible
vsunalienable
  • Formal
1 9.9

A right or claim that cannot be taken away

adds that it also cannot be transferred or denied, not just annulled
nontransferable
vsunalienable
1 6.6

You cannot give or sell it to another person

is stronger, also meaning it cannot be taken away or denied
unwaivable
vsunalienable
  • Formal
1 9.3

Cannot be given up or taken away by agreement

includes being impossible to take away as well as not transferable
non-negotiable
vsunalienable
  • Specialized
1 7.0

Cannot be sold or exchanged for money

is wider, also preventing denial, forcible removal, or transfer
nonforfeitable
vsunalienable
  • Specialized
1 8.5

Not able to be taken away by law or contract

is broader, covering denial, transfer, and general removal as well
unassignable
vsunalienable
1 8.4

Cannot be given or sold to another person

also stresses that it cannot be taken away or denied
unforfeitable
vsunalienable
  • Specialized
9.9

Not able to be taken away by law or contract

covers that protection plus inability to transfer or be denied

Antonyms

alienable
  • Formal
1 9.4

Able to be sold or given to another person

Surface Forms

unalienable positive

Morphology

unalienable = alienable (semi-transparent) = un + alien + able

Formed by negating 'alienable' (alien + -able); however, 'alien' in this legal sense relates to 'alienate' (transfer), which is not the common meaning 'foreign', so learners may be confused.

Etymology

The word unalienable starts with un- meaning 'not' and comes from alien meaning 'other' or 'belonging to someone else'. So a helpful way to remember unalienable is that it describes a right or thing you cannot give away or have taken from you.