non-refundable
adjective C2
Plain meaning
not able to be paid back after purchase or cancellation
Exam-register meaning
In formal or high-level texts, it is used to describe not able to be paid back after purchase or cancellation, often with a precise or specialised tone.
In context
naturalHis response sounded non-refundable, so the conversation became difficult.
examThe passage presents a non-refundable assessment of the policy’s wider consequences.
Common collocations
a non-refundable responsenon-refundable behavioura non-refundable situation
Watch out
Do not use “very non-refundable” automatically; some advanced adjectives already carry a strong meaning or need a more natural intensifier.
Word family
non (refundableness (noun, where natural))non (refundablely (adverb, where natural))