A cost that cannot be partly or fully recovered through any subsequent action is known as

This type of cost is referred to as a sunk cost. Sunk costs are expenses that have already been incurred and cannot be recovered, regardless of future decisions or outcomes. For example, if a company spends money on research and development for a product that is later deemed unviable, the expenses already spent on that research are sunk costs. Business decision-making often involves evaluating whether to continue investing in a project based on future potential and benefits rather than the sunk costs, which should not impact rational decision-making since they cannot be recovered. Thus, it's vital for individuals and organizations to distinguish between sunk costs and prospective costs when making financial decisions or evaluating projects.