regardless

1 of 2

adverb

re·​gard·​less ri-ˈgärd-ləs How to pronounce regardless (audio)
Synonyms of regardless
: despite everything
went ahead with their plans regardless

regardless

2 of 2

adjective

regardlessly adverb
regardlessness noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is irregardless a word?

Yes. It may not be a word that you like, or a word that you would use in a term paper, but irregardless certainly is a word. It has been in use for almost 200 years, and is employed by a large number of people across a wide geographic range and with a consistent meaning. That is why we, and well-nigh every other dictionary of modern English, define this word. Remember that a definition is not an endorsement of a word’s use.

Does irregardless mean the same thing as regardless?

Yes. We define irregardless as "regardless." Many people find irregardless to be a nonsensical word, as the ir- prefix usually functions to indicate negation; however, in this case it appears to function as an intensifier. Similar ir- words, while rare, do exist in English, including irremediless ("remediless"), irresistless ("resistless"), and irrelentlessly ("relentlessly").

Is irregardless slang?

We label irregardless as “nonstandard” rather than “slang.” When a word is nonstandard it means it is “not conforming in pronunciation, grammatical construction, idiom, or word choice to the usage generally characteristic of educated native speakers of a language.” Irregardless is a long way from winning general acceptance as a standard English word. For that reason, it is best to use regardless instead.

Synonyms of regardless

Examples of regardless in a Sentence

Adverb the weather looked bad, but they were resolved to go on with their picnic regardless
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
Every couple of years, the water turns murky, regardless, and the whole tank has to be drained and refilled, explains Polojärvi. Deena Theresa, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026 The same punishment would have been met regardless, because that’s what the men who commit those crimes deserve. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 27 May 2026 Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said Jocytė would be on a minutes restriction regardless but with the lead getting larger and the eyes of the crowd staring at Jocytė on the bench, there was an overwhelming feeling that Jocytė was going to be on the floor at some point. Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 26 May 2026 For a taste of scrapple, the Pennsylvania Dutch specialty made with offal and cornmeal, try the version at the Dutch Eating Place in the cavernous Reading Terminal Market, the city's 19th-century food hall and an essential stop regardless. Regan Stephens, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for regardless

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1872, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1578, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of regardless was in 1578

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Cite this Entry

“Regardless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regardless. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

regardless

1 of 2 adjective
re·​gard·​less ri-ˈgärd-ləs How to pronounce regardless (audio)
: having or taking no regard : heedless, careless
regardless of what might happen

regardless

2 of 2 adverb
: in spite of everything

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