nontransferable

nontransferable — adjective

  • nontransferablepositive
  • more nontransferablecomparative
  • most nontransferablesuperlative

1. describes a ticket, license, account, prize, or right that the holder cannot giv

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes a ticket, license, account, prize, or right that the holder cannot give, sell, or pass to anyone else — only the named person may use it.

Example

Yara's concert wristband was nontransferable, so she could not let her sister go in her place.

predicative: [noun] is nontransferable

The scholarship is nontransferable and must be used at the university listed on the award letter.

common collocation: scholarship is nontransferable

Common collocations
  • nontransferable ticket
  • nontransferable license
  • nontransferable membership
  • nontransferable scholarship
  • strictly nontransferable
Synonyms
  • untransferable

    rarer spelling variant; same legal meaning

  • personal

    much broader; only carries the 'one named holder' sense in fixed phrases like 'personal license'

  • inalienable

    formal/legal; usually about rights (human rights, property rights) that cannot be taken away or surrendered, not about everyday tickets

Antonyms
  • transferable

    the holder may pass the right or item to someone else

  • assignable

    legal/contract register; rights may be reassigned to another party

Grammar Patterns

[noun] is nontransferable

nontransferable [noun]

Usage Note

Almost always describes a right, document, or asset tied to one named person; subject is rarely an everyday object. Frequently appears in terms and conditions, contracts, and ticketing rules.

Common Mistakes

My friend is nontransferable to the new office.
My friend cannot be transferred to the new office.
'nontransferable' describes rights or assets, not people being moved.
The ticket is non-transferable to refund.
The ticket is nontransferable and nonrefundable.
pair it with another adjective rather than using 'to + noun' after it.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words signal that something belongs to one specific person, but they live in different registers. 'Nontransferable' is the modern, standard word on tickets, licenses, scholarships, gym memberships, and online accounts; you see it in everyday terms-and-conditions text. 'Untransferable' is a much rarer spelling variant with the same legal meaning — most style guides now prefer 'nontransferable'. 'Inalienable' is heavier and almost only appears with rights ('inalienable human rights', 'inalienable property rights') that cannot be given up or taken away, not with everyday tickets or vouchers. 'Personal' is far broader, and only carries this narrow 'one named holder' sense in fixed phrases like 'personal license' or 'personal data'. So for a concert ticket you would say 'the ticket is nontransferable'; for a basic freedom you would say 'an inalienable right'.

nontransferable ↗untransferable ↗inalienable ↗personal ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • strictly nontransferable
  • nontransferable and nonrefundable

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Formed in English in the 19th century by adding the prefix 'non-' (Latin 'non' meaning 'not') to 'transferable', which itself comes from the verb 'transfer' (Latin 'transferre', made of 'trans-' 'across' + 'ferre' 'to carry'). The whole word literally means 'not able to be carried across' — that is, not able to be passed from one holder to another.