impasse

UK: /æmˈpɑːs/, /ˈɪmpɑːs/ US: /ˈɪmpæs/ ,(im′pas, im pas′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

im•passe /ˈɪmpæs/   n. [count;
usually singular]

1. a situation from which there is no escape:
   The discussions reached an impasse.

See -pass-¹.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

im•passe  (im′pas, im pas′), n. 

1. a position or situation from which there is no escape;
   deadlock.
2. a road or way that has no outlet;
   cul-de-sac.

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

Synonyms

• 1. stalemate, standstill, standoff, dead end.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

impasse / æmˈpɑːs ˈæmpɑːs ɪmˈpɑːs ˈɪmpɑːs/ noun

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

Etymology: 19th Century: from French; see im-, pass