Unreinforceable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Unable to be strengthened, supported, or made more secure through additional reinforcement or backup
2. Incapable of receiving extra structural support or augmentation to increase stability or durability
3. Not possible to fortify or strengthen further by adding supplementary elements or reinforcements

Etymology: "Unreinforceable" is a plain built-up word: the prefix "un-" meaning "not," the verb "reinforce," and the suffix "-able," meaning "capable of being." Together they describe something that cannot be strengthened by adding material or support. "Reinforce" itself came into English in the 1600s, borrowed from French "renforcer," which combines "re-" (again) with "enforcer," to strengthen, from Latin "fortis," strong. The verb "reinforce" was first used mainly for military troops, sent to add to an army already in the field, before it came to mean strengthening almost anything. The negative adjective "unreinforceable" is a much later formation, built on the verb in English rather than inherited from French or Latin, and it is uncommon, appearing mostly in technical or engineering contexts where a structure or material is judged impossible to strengthen further.

Synonyms: unstrengthenable, nonreinforceable

Antonyms: reinforceable, strengthenable