irrefutable
UK[ˌɪrɪˈfjuːtəbl̩]US[ˌɪrɪˈfjuːtəbl̩]
adj
impossible to prove wrong; undeniable.
Morpheme Breakdown
ir
refut
able
ir
not
refut
to disprove
able
capable of
Etymology
the word 'irrefutable' is built upon the latin verb 'refutare', which originally meant 'to drive back' or 'repel', a sense that evolved into the logical argumentative meaning of 'to disprove or rebut'. the prefix 'in-' (here assimilated to 'ir-') negates the root, creating the sense 'not able to be disproved'. the suffix '-able' is added to form an adjective. thus, the literal morphemic construction 'not capable of being driven back (in argument)' elegantly conveys the modern abstract meaning of being undeniable or impossible to contradict with evidence.
Analysis
Structure: ir (not) + refut (to disprove) + able (capable of)
ir- (latin, negative prefix), refut- (latin, from 'refutare', meaning to drive back, rebut), -able (latin/french, suffix forming adjectives meaning 'capable of, fit for').
Examples
the scientific evidence supporting climate change is irrefutable.
she presented an irrefutable alibi for the night of the incident.
his logic was so clear and irrefutable that the debate was effectively over.