Inalienable is the more common form today, and although we often see both forms used to modify "rights," it was unalienable that was used in the Declaration of Independence to describe life, liberty, …

Expediency as an inalienable quality of a living being that includes the ability to modify their own form and behaviour.

Unalienable is a variation of the same word. It means the same thing and can be used in all of the same contexts. In fact, this is the version of the word that made its way into the United States Declaration …

not able to be transferred to another; not alienable: the inalienable rights of the citizen.

Nov 28, 2025 · Adjective inalienable (not comparable) Not subject to being alienated, that is, surrendered, taken away, or transferred to another.

Definition of inalienable adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Inalienable describes things, especially rights, that cannot be taken away, denied, or transferred to another person. Inalienable means the same thing as unalienable, which is no longer in common use.

Inalienable means something that is not transferable or that is impossible to take away. Every constitution provides for fundamental rights which are inalienable rights.

The spelling may vary but the meaning is clear: an inalienable right is something that can’t be given or taken away by a government or another legal power.

Any infringement of that choice constitutes serfdom, and liberty is the inalienable right of humankind.