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

: a fruitless or mistaken course or direction

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

Ideally located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in the Taskers Pond neighborhood, a handsome colonial has just come on the market. — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026

Their house is fine, Wilson said, despite flames that leveled an entire cul-de-sac just two blocks away, leaving only chimneys standing in some cases. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026

Hidden at the end of a cul-de-sac atop Filaret Hill, Bucharest’s highest point, this property, which is rumored to have once served as a KGB headquarters, caters to a crowd that includes dignitaries and celebrities. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026

In the same cul-de-sac, at least six houses were razed, while others appeared to stand unscathed, including the house next to Angela’s. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, bottom of the bag

First Known Use

1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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