cul-de-sac

noun

ˈkəl-di-ˌsak 

ˈku̇l-;

ˌkəl-di-ˈsak,

ˌku̇l-

plural cul-de-sacs ˈkəl-di-ˌsaks 

ˈku̇l-;

ˌkəl-di-ˈsaks,

ˌku̇l-

also culs-de-sac ˈkəl(z)-di-ˌsak 

ˈku̇l(z)-;

ˌkəl(z)-di-ˈsak,

ˌku̇l(z)-

1

: a blind diverticulum or pouch

2

: a street or passage closed at one end

Our house is located on a quiet cul-de-sac.

3

: blind alley

If your job is a cul-de-sac, you have to quit or accept the fact that your career is over.

—Seth Godin

Examples of cul-de-sac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Alice Court is a cul-de-sac in the Valley Creek subdivision, east of Randall Road and north of Highland Avenue. —Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025

As the weapon jammed, the man was able to escape in his car, reversing at speed and clipping the Mercedes’ door on the way out of the cul-de-sac, according to the CPS. —Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025

Lewis Place is a residential cul-de-sac with two-story homes accompanied by lots of trees. —Dan O'Brien, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2025

Surrounded by a quiet residential neighborhood, the restaurant, housed in a century-old Greek Revival home sits at the end of a cul-de-sac on Richland Street amid a grove of 18 live oak trees. —Beth D'addono, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, bottom of the bag

First Known Use

1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cul-de-sac

• almanac
• camelback
• cardiac
• carryback
• cluniac
• diamondback
• lumberjack
• maniac
• paperback
• piggyback
• quarterback
• saddleback

Kids Definition

cul-de-sac

noun

ˈkəl-di-ˌsak,

ˈku̇l-

plural cul-de-sacs

ˈkəl-di-ˌsaks,

ˈku̇l-

also culs-de-sac

ˈkəl(z)-di-ˌsak,

ˈku̇l(z)-

: a street or passage closed at one end

Medical Definition

cul-de-sac

noun

ˈkəl-di-ˌsak, ˈku̇l-; ˌkəl-di-ˈ, ˌku̇l- 

plural culs-de-sac ˈkəl(z)-, ˈku̇l(z)-, ˌkəl(z)-, ˌku̇l(z)-  also cul-de-sacs -ˌsaks, -ˈsaks 

1

: a blind diverticulum or pouch

also : the closed end of such a pouch

2

: pouch of douglas