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impasse

American  
[im-pas, im-pas] / ˈɪm pæs, ɪmˈpæs /

noun

  1. a position or situation from which there is no escape; deadlock.

    Synonyms:
    dead end, standoff, standstill, stalemate

  2. a road or way that has no outlet; cul-de-sac.

impasse British  
/ ˈæmpɑːs, ɪmˈpɑːs, æmˈpɑːs, ˈɪmpɑːs /

noun

  1. a situation in which progress is blocked; an insurmountable difficulty; stalemate; deadlock

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of impasse

1850–55; < French, equivalent to im- im- 2 + -passe, stem of passer to pass

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

TSA agents, who manage US airport security, have not been paid in more than a month due to the impasse.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

"I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country," Musk posted on X.

From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026

Anderson says the men have reached an impasse and is asking a judge to dissolve their business connections.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

That day, Altman told staff that the company was working on a deal that might help solve the impasse.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

I sensed the government was anxious to overcome the impasse in the country, that they were now convinced they had to depart from their old positions.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.