cul-de-sac

[kuhl-duh-sak, -sak, kool-, kyd^uh-sak]

noun

plural

culs-de-sac 

1. a street, lane, etc., closed at one end; blind alley; dead-end street.

2. any situation in which further progress is impossible.

3. the hemming in of a military force on all sides except behind.

4. Anatomy.,  a saclike cavity, tube, or the like, open only at one end, as the cecum.

cul-de-sac

/ ˈkʌldəˌsæk, ˈkʊl- /

noun

1. a road with one end blocked off; dead end

2. an inescapable position

3. any tube-shaped bodily cavity or pouch closed at one end, such as the caecum

Word History and Origins

Origin of cul-de-sac¹

1730–40; < French: literally, bottom of the sack

Word History and Origins

Origin of cul-de-sac¹

C18: from French, literally: bottom of the bag

Example Sentences

Responding to the speech, Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: "Keir Starmer calls this a fork in the road, but he's already driven Britain into a cul-de-sac of chaos."

From BBC

The man, who does not want to be named, said he had removed six or seven flags from lampposts in the cul-de-sac when he was confronted by a group of people.

From BBC

The man said he dialled 999 as advised by the council, but no police turned up during the time he was trying to manoeuvre his van out of the cul-de-sac.

From BBC

But the bin store servicing her cul-de-sac is full of general waste.

From BBC

Camera crews descended on the famous cul-de-sac on Wednesday as part of a one-off special episode to mark Hollyoaks' 30th anniversary.

From BBC