Impassable

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Impassable

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

adjective

Pronunciation

im-PAH-suh-bul  /ɪmˈpɑːsəb(ə)l/

Definition

Impossible to travel through or over; (of a road, route, or terrain) blocked, flooded, or too difficult to cross.

Plain meaning

Impassable describes a road, path, or terrain that cannot be passed through or crossed — either because it is physically blocked, flooded, too rough, too steep, or otherwise impossible to traverse. An impassable mountain pass in winter is blocked by snow. An impassable road after flooding is covered by water. The word can also be used figuratively: an impassable gulf between two positions means the differences are too great to bridge.

Register

Neutral. Impassable is used in travel, military, engineering, and figurative contexts. It is a moderately formal word — everyday speech might use blocked or impassable interchangeably for roads. The figurative use (impassable divide, impassable difference) is common in formal writing.