Inviolable means something so sacred, important, or protected that it must never be broken, violated, or disrespected. When something is inviolable, it's treated as absolutely untouchable.

The Constitution describes certain rights as inviolable, meaning no government or person should ever be allowed to take them away. A promise between best friends might feel inviolable: no matter what happens, you'd never break it. Some families have inviolable rules, like always telling the truth or never leaving someone behind.

An inviolable trust means a trust that should never be betrayed. An inviolable sanctuary is a safe place that must always remain protected.

Think of it this way: some things in life are flexible and can bend or change, but inviolable things are like steel vaults. They're protected by something deeper than mere rules: honor, justice, or the recognition that certain principles are too important to compromise. When a judge declares that someone's rights are inviolable, she's saying those rights stand firm no matter what pressure comes against them.