Is *Irregardless a Word? | Definition & Spelling

Regardless is an adverb meaning “despite everything.” It’s often used as a transition word at the start of a sentence to change the topic.

“Irregardless” is sometimes used instead of regardless. However, most dictionaries don’t consider “irregardless” a real word, and it should be avoided in formal or academic writing.

Examples: Irregardless and regardless in a sentence
  • I might lose, but I’m going to try irregardless.
  • I might lose, but I’m going to try regardless.
  • Irregardless, you should come to the party.
  • Regardless, you should come to the party.

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Regardless of

Regardless can also be used as part of the prepositional phrase regardless of meaning “heedless of” or “careless of.” “Irregardless of” is never correct.

Examples: Regardless of in a sentence
Mia decided to buy the new car, regardless of the cost.

I go running every day, regardless of the weather.

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Frequently asked questions

What does “irregardless” mean?

“Irregardless” is often mistakenly used to mean regardless. However, “irregardless” is not considered a real word by most dictionaries, and it should be avoided in formal or academic writing.

“Irregardless” is seen as incorrect because it adds the prefix “ir-,” which usually expresses negation, but actually means the same thing as regardless, not the opposite. While you may hear people say “irregardless,” it’s almost never encountered in published writing.

What is a synonym for “regardless”?

Some synonyms and near synonyms of regardless include:

  • Anyway
  • In any case
  • Nevertheless
  • Nonetheless

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Ryan, E. (2023, March 14). Is *Irregardless a Word? | Definition & Spelling. Scribbr. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/common-mistakes/irregardless/

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Eoghan Ryan

Eoghan has a lot of experience with theses and dissertations at bachelor's, MA, and PhD level. He has taught university English courses, helping students to improve their research and writing.