George Meredith
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The word impeccable has been used in English since the 16th century. It comes from the Latin word impeccabilis, a combination of the Latin prefix in-, meaning "not," and the verb peccare, meaning "to sin." Its original meaning hewed close to its root: impeccable meant "not capable of sinning or liable to sin." (It has a rare but pleasingly logical antonym in peccable, meaning "liable or prone to sin.") Peccare has other descendants in English: there is the noun peccadillo, ("a slight offense"), adjective peccant ("guilty of a moral offense" or simply "faulty"), and the noun peccavi, which in Latin literally means "I have sinned" but in English refers to an acknowledgment of sin. Nowadays, impeccable is more commonly used in the secular sense to mean "flawless," as in "impeccable taste in music" or "their craftsmanship is impeccable."
Examples of impeccable in a Sentence
Darryl Pinckney, High Cotton, 1992
His English was impeccable but halting, like a well-tooled but slightly rusted machine.
—John Updike, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 1987
In order to ensure that at least one verifiable Spaniard participate in this critical venture, Mendoza asked Bishop Zumárraga to nominate as second-in-command a younger friar with impeccable credentials, and the cleric selected a Fransiscan in whom he had great faith …
—James A. Michener, Texas, 1985
She has impeccable taste in music.
the etiquette expert was celebrated for her absolutely impeccable manners
Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
Made with 76 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 24 percent Cabernet Franc from a high-altitude estate vineyard in an area of Sonoma known for its impeccable Bordeaux-style blends, this wine ticks off all the boxes for lovers of bold reds.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 28 May 2026
The milestones have come in bunches for Spry, thanks to his impeccable improvement this season alone.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 28 May 2026
This is a refined sanctuary with impeccable eco-credentials and a relative bargain when compared to the likes of Babylonstoren.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for impeccable
Cite this Entry
“Impeccable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impeccable. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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