irrespective

IPA/ˌɪr.ɪˈspek.tɪv/
KK[ˌɪrəspˈɛktɪv]IPA/ˌɪr.əˈspek.tɪv/

irrespective — adverb

1. without being affected or influenced by a particular factor, condition, or circu

1.adverbB2
Definition

without being affected or influenced by a particular factor, condition, or circumstance — used to say that something happens or remains true even when things such as age, cost, or difficulty might suggest otherwise.

Example

The company hires the best candidates irrespective of their nationality or gender.

irrespective of + noun phrase (nationality, gender)

Irrespective of the heavy rain, Joon decided to walk all the way to the library.

fronted adverbial: irrespective of + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • irrespective of age
  • irrespective of cost
  • irrespective of race
  • irrespective of gender
  • irrespective of nationality
  • irrespective of background
  • irrespective of the consequences
  • entirely irrespective of
  • wholly irrespective of
Synonyms
  • regardless

    more common in everyday speech; 'irrespective' is slightly more formal

  • no matter

    follows a different structure ('no matter what/who/how') and is more conversational

  • notwithstanding

    much more formal; can be placed before or after the noun

Antonyms
  • depending on

    suggests that the outcome changes based on the factor being considered

  • subject to

    implies that the factor mentioned can change or block the outcome

Grammar Patterns

irrespective of + noun phrase

irrespective of whether/wh-clause

Usage Note

Almost always used in the fixed pattern 'irrespective of + noun phrase' or 'irrespective of whether/wh-clause'. Cannot be used alone without 'of' (e.g. ❌ 'He acted irrespective.'). Slightly more formal than 'regardless of'.

Common Mistakes

She joined the team irrespective her age.
She joined the team irrespective of her age.
The preposition 'of' must always follow 'irrespective'.
Irrespective of it rained, the match went ahead.
Irrespective of whether it rained, the match went ahead.
A clause after 'irrespective of' needs 'whether' or a wh-word.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All three alternatives express the idea that something is not affected by a particular condition. 'Regardless' is the closest synonym and the most common — it works in the same pattern ('regardless of + noun') and is more neutral in register, while 'irrespective of' sounds slightly more formal or legal. 'No matter' is conversational and follows a different grammar structure: 'no matter what/who/where/how + clause' (e.g. 'No matter how hard it rained, Joon walked to the library'). 'Notwithstanding' is very formal and literary; it can appear before or after its object ('notwithstanding the weather' or 'the weather notwithstanding'), whereas 'irrespective of' always requires 'of' before the noun.

regardless ↗no matter ↗notwithstanding ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Irrespective combines the prefix 'ir-' (a variant of 'in-', meaning 'not') with 'respective', which comes from Latin 'respectus' meaning 'to look back at, to regard'. The word was formed by analogy with 'regardless' and first appeared in English in the late 1600s. The original meaning was 'showing no respect or regard for', but over time it settled into the fixed phrase 'irrespective of', meaning 'without having to consider'.