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. While “irregardless” may be used in informal contexts, it is considered nonstandard and should be avoided in formal or academic writing.

Examples: Irregardless and regardless in a sentence
Nonstandard: I might lose, but I’m going to try irregardless.

Standard: I might lose, but I’m going to try regardless.

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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 used to mean regardless. However, “irregardless” is considered a nonstandard word, and it should be avoided in formal or academic writing.

“Irregardless” is often 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, October 16). Is *Irregardless a Word? | Definition & Spelling. Scribbr. Retrieved January 8, 2024, 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.