Meaning & use
irrebuttable
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Meaning
adjectivenot comparableformallegal
Impossible to disprove or argue against; not open to rebuttal.
Grammar: Describes a fact, presumption, or conclusion that cannot be challenged; it does not take an object.
Patterns
- an irrebuttable presumption
- irrebuttable evidence
The court treated the certified record as irrebuttable proof of ownership.
In this jurisdiction, the presumption of paternity is irrebuttable once the deadline passes.
Common combinations
- irrebuttable presumption
- The law creates an irrebuttable presumption that a child under seven cannot commit a crime.
- irrebuttable proof
- Fingerprint evidence is not always irrebuttable proof of guilt.
- irrebuttable fact
- The date of the statute is an irrebuttable fact.
Synonyms and how they differ
- indisputable
- More general and common; it means no one can argue against it, but it does not carry the specific legal idea of a presumption that cannot be rebutted.
- conclusive
- Often used for evidence or results that settle a question; it can be challenged in principle, while irrebuttable means challenge is legally impossible.
Opposites
Word family
- rebut verb
- To argue against or disprove a claim.
- rebuttal noun
- A statement that argues against a claim.
- rebuttable adjective
- Able to be argued against or disproved.
Commonly confused: irrebuttable or irrefutable?
irrebuttable vs irrefutable
Irrefutable means impossible to prove wrong; irrebuttable means impossible to argue against in a legal proceeding. They are close but not identical.
Practice
Which word best fits: 'The __________ presumption that a person intends the natural consequences of their acts cannot be challenged in this court.'?
Choose one answer.
The sentence says the presumption cannot be challenged, so 'irrebuttable' is correct. 'Rebuttable' is the opposite, and 'refutable' and 'debatable' also mean open to challenge.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “irrebuttable”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.