adjective
inviolable
in-VY-uh-luh-bul/ɪnˈvaɪələbl/
Not to be violated or infringed.
The sealed ceremonial book is treated as inviolable inside its protective case.
Etymology
The pieces express something that cannot be injured or dishonored. Applied to oaths and sanctuaries, this became a claim to protection: something that must not be violated.
In context
from the Islamic perspective, there is what is known as an inviolable right that the ummah has lost by adopting a Western way of living.
More examples
- The treaty declares each nation's borders inviolable.
- Our clinic treats patient privacy as inviolable.
- For this team, honesty is an inviolable rule.
Forms
inviolable
inviolability noun — The quality of being protected from violation.
Similar words
- sacrosanct
- Emphasizes being beyond challenge or interference, sometimes with irony.
- sacred
- Emphasizes religious holiness or deeply held personal importance.