impasse

noun

im·​passe ˈim-ˌpas 

im-ˈpas

1

a

: a predicament affording no obvious escape

an impossible impasse in which accepting a pardon meant admitting guilt

b

: deadlock

Negotiations are at an impasse.

2

: an impassable road or way : cul-de-sac

Synonyms of impasse

• halt
• deadlock
• stalemate

Examples of impasse in a Sentence

The players are poised to strike after Thursday's games because they believe, with good reason, that if no agreement is reached by the end of the post-season, the owners will declare an impasse … —Murray Chass, New York Times, 9 Aug. 1994

We seem to have been forced into an impasse. We need to understand why space-time singularities have the structures that they appear to have; but space-time singularities are regions where our understanding of physics has reached its limits. —Roger Penrose, The Emperor's New Mind, 1989

I think the civil rights movement in its early and middle years offered the best way out of America's racial impasse: in this society, race must not be a source of advantage or disadvantage for anyone. —Shelby Steele, Harper's, June 1988

An arbitrator was called in to break the impasse.

She had reached an impasse in her career.

Recent Examples on the Web

The impasse prompted Martin to look beyond the Beatles’ usual instrumental palette. — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026

Reddington had to talk around this impasse, badgering Clancy’s providers about matters such as their use of telemedicine, as though this wasn’t standard practice. — Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Several supporters of Lindsay Clancy waiting in line to enter court are discussing the jury’s impasse and expressing concern about a possible mistrial. — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

After more than a year of negotiations, the California Faculty Association — which represents about 29,000 professors, lecturers, librarians, counselors and coaches — declared impasse in July. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from in- + passer to pass

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for impasse

• alas
• amass
• bromegrass
• bypass
• crabgrass
• crevasse
• eelgrass
• eyeglass
• groundmass
• harass
• jackass
• landmass

Kids Definition

impasse

noun

im·​passe ˈim-ˌpas 

im-ˈpas

: a situation from which it seems impossible to escape

especially : deadlock

Legal Definition

impasse

noun

im·​passe ˈim-ˌpas, im-ˈpas 

: a point in especially labor negotiations at which reaching an agreement is impossible because neither party is willing to compromise or change position