non-cancelable

1 5.3

You cannot stop or change it after you agree

adjective
/nɒnˈkænsləbl/

Formal

: no cancelable

Be sure to check if your reservation is non-cancelable before booking the hotel room.

Examples

Some subscriptions are non-cancelable after the initial trial period ends.
The contract is non-cancelable, so you must pay the full amount even if you change your mind.
This deal is non-cancelable!
The contract is non-cancelable once signed.
Your membership will be non-cancelable after the first month, meaning you cannot get a refund.
Double-check the terms; the ticket purchase is non-cancelable, and no changes can be made.
The lease agreement is non-cancelable, so you are committed for the entire year.

Synonyms

irrevocable

vsnon-cancelable

13 8.1

Impossible to change or undo

becomes fixed only after agreement or once action starts

undoable

vsnon-cancelable

1 4.8

Not possible to change back after it is done

applies earlier, once something is agreed or has begun

indefeasible

vsnon-cancelable

Formal

1 9.9

A right or claim that cannot be taken away

is the general idea used beyond legal or technical contexts

Antonyms

cancelable

1 3.5

Can be stopped or called off before it starts

How Cancelable

cancelable

1 3.5

revocable

Specialized

3 7.5

non-cancelable

Formal

1 5.3

irrevocable

13 8.1

Surface Forms

non-cancelable positive

non-cancelable comparative

non-cancelable superlative

Morphology

non-cancelable = cancelable (transparent) = non + cancel + able

The adjective is formed by negating the clear adjective 'cancelable' with the productive prefix 'non-', yielding 'not able to be canceled'.

Etymology

Non-cancelable comes from parts you already know: non- means 'not', cancel originally meant 'to cross out' and comes from an old Latin word for drawing lines across, and -able means 'can be done'. So non-cancelable literally means 'not able to be crossed out', which is why it describes a deal or booking you cannot end or take back once it has started.