Close in meaning

Irregardless vs. Regardless

Regardless is the standard word for 'without paying attention to' or 'anyway.' Irregardless means the same thing but is widely seen as nonstandard, so avoid it in school and work writing. Use regardless.

Word	Part of speech	Meaning
irregardless	adverb	a nonstandard blend of regardless and irrespective, heard in casual speech with the meaning of regardless
regardless	adverb	despite everything; anyway, or without being affected by something

Irregardless

adverb: a nonstandard blend of regardless and irrespective, heard in casual speech with the meaning of regardless

My uncle always says irregardless, and his kids always correct him.
Some listeners wince when a speaker uses irregardless in a formal talk.

Regardless

adverb: despite everything; anyway, or without being affected by something

The roads were icy, but the mail carrier came regardless.
Everyone is welcome to join, regardless of age or skill.

How to remember the difference

Ir- and -less both mean not, so irregardless says not twice. Drop the ir- and you have the word you want.

Good to know

Irregardless has been around for more than a century and appears in major dictionaries, which label it nonstandard. Some people use it as a joke. In formal writing, use regardless or irrespective.

Spot the mistake

~~Irregardless~~ Regardless of the cost, we need a new furnace.
Correct: Regardless of the cost, we need a new furnace.

Check yourself

Pick the word that fits each sentence.

1. The game will go on of the rain.

2. Many editors cross out and write regardless instead.