impracticable

American  

[im-prak-ti-kuh-buhl] / ɪmˈpræk tɪ kə bəl /

adjective

1. not practicable; incapable of being put into practice with the available means.

   an impracticable plan.

2. unsuitable for practical use or purposes, as a device or material.

3. (of ground, places, etc.) impassable.

4. (of persons) hard to deal with because of stubbornness, stupidity, etc.

---

impracticable British  

/ ɪmˈpræktɪkəbəl /

adjective

1. incapable of being put into practice or accomplished; not feasible

2. unsuitable for a desired use; unfit

3. an archaic word for intractable

---

Other Word Forms

• impracticability
  noun
• impracticableness
  noun
• impracticably
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of impracticable

First recorded in 1645–55; im- ² + practicable

Example Sentences

Of skies, enwrapped in misty shrouds, Impracticable avenues!

From The Complete Poems of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow by Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth

Impracticable, im-prak′tik-a-bl, adj. not able to be done: unmanageable: stubborn.—ns.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Impracticable when first devised at Artajona, the difficulties besetting the scheme, although diminished by the comparative proximity of Pampeluna to Rita's prison, still appeared almost insuperable.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 59, No. 367, May 1846 by Various

Impracticable rules in morals are always injurious; for as all men fall short of compliance with them, they turn real virtues into imaginary offences against a forged law.

From Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry by Pike, Albert

Impracticable projects and counsels from Bordeaux poured in freely, but did not mend matters; and on the 24th General Bourbaki summoned the superior officers to a council of war.

From The Franco-German War of 1870-71 by Helmuth, Count