Irrespective

/ˌɪrɪˈspɛktɪv/ preposition/adjective

Definition

Without regard to; not taking something into consideration; regardless of.

Etymology

From 'ir-' (not) plus 'respective' (relating back to). It's a fairly modern coinage combining prefix and existing word to create the meaning 'not showing respect to/ignoring.'

Kelly Says

Grammarians argue whether 'irrespective' is even a real word—it's often considered redundant with 'regardless'—but it's persisted because people like how emphatic it sounds!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.