Dictionary

impasse en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈæmpɑːs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ɪmˈpæs/ (General-American)
• /æmˈpɑːs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɪmpɑːs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɪmpæs/ (General-American)
• /ɪmˈpɑːs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. French im- French passe French impassebor. English impasse Borrowed from French impasse.

Meanings

1. A road with no exit.
2. (figuratively) A deadlock or stalemate situation in which no progress can be made.
   • “It seems to me the thing's an impasse. French expression,” I explained, “meaning that we're stymied good and proper with no hope of finding a formula.” 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter XIV:
   • "Young man, this town is at a bit of an impasse. If you have any suggestion that might help, now would be the time to voice it." 2010, Clare Vanderpool, Moon Over Manifest:
   • The agreement, which falls short of the sprawling changes championed by Democrats, is a significant step toward ending a yearslong impasse over gun reform legislation. 2022 June 12, Emily Cochrane, Annie Karni, “Senators Reach Bipartisan Deal on Gun Safety”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

Forms

Synonyms

cul-de-sac

Translations (50)

hu holtpont (deadlock or stalemate situation) · de ausweglose Situation (deadlock or stalemate situation) · th ทางตัน (deadlock or stalemate situation) · es impasse (deadlock or stalemate situation) · ca atzucac (deadlock or stalemate situation) · de Sackgasse (deadlock or stalemate situation) · es impás (deadlock or stalemate situation) · mi whakamāraritanga (deadlock or stalemate situation) · cs slepá ulička (road with no exit) · it cul de sac (deadlock or stalemate situation) · es punto muerto (deadlock or stalemate situation) · fi umpikuja (deadlock or stalemate situation) · pl matnia (deadlock or stalemate situation) · pl impas (deadlock or stalemate situation) · de Pattsituation (deadlock or stalemate situation) · fi umpikuja (road with no exit) · sv död punkt (deadlock or stalemate situation) · kk тығырық (deadlock or stalemate situation) · fr voie sans issue (deadlock or stalemate situation) · cmn 死胡同 (road with no exit) · es callejón sin salida (deadlock or stalemate situation) · hu zsákutca (deadlock or stalemate situation) · es impasse (road with no exit) · cmn 僵局 (deadlock or stalemate situation) · de Patt (deadlock or stalemate situation) · da blindgyde (deadlock or stalemate situation) · sv dödläge (deadlock or stalemate situation) · hu patthelyzet (deadlock or stalemate situation) · ca cul-de-sac (deadlock or stalemate situation) · ar مأزق (deadlock or stalemate situation) · cs patová situace (deadlock or stalemate situation) · de Hängepartie (deadlock or stalemate situation) · sh ćorsokak (deadlock or stalemate situation) · ru тупи́к (deadlock or stalemate situation) · bg безизходица (deadlock or stalemate situation) · el αδιέξοδο (deadlock or stalemate situation) · it vicolo cieco (deadlock or stalemate situation) · de festgefahrene Situation (deadlock or stalemate situation) · it impasse (deadlock or stalemate situation) · cmn 死路 (road with no exit) · fr impasse (deadlock or stalemate situation) · cs slepá ulice (road with no exit) · cs slepá ulička (deadlock or stalemate situation) · es impás (road with no exit) · vi ngõ cụt (deadlock or stalemate situation) · pl ślepa uliczka (deadlock or stalemate situation) · ja 行き詰まり (deadlock or stalemate situation) · sh ћорсокак (deadlock or stalemate situation) · pt impasse (deadlock or stalemate situation) · pl zastój (deadlock or stalemate situation)