WorldAugust 29, 2026
inalienable
in-AY-lee-uh-nuh-bul
Definition
Unable to be taken away or given away; a fundamental right that cannot be surrendered or transferred.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'alienus' (belonging to another) with the prefix 'in-' (not), the word entered English in the early 17th century to describe rights that cannot be alienated or transferred.
In the news
The article uses the term to emphasize that free speech is a fundamental right that the government cannot legally strip from students, regardless of their citizenship status.
Judge rules Trump unlawfully targeted foreign students who criticized Israel
Read the full article ↗The Seattle Times