impeccable

1 of 2

adjective

im·​pec·​ca·​ble (ˌ)im-ˈpe-kə-bəl 

1

: free from fault or blame : flawless

has impeccable manners/taste

spoke impeccable French

2

: not capable of sinning or liable to sin

impeccability

(ˌ)im-ˌpe-kə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

impeccably

(ˌ)im-ˈpe-kə-blē 

adverb

impeccability

2 of 2

noun

im·​pec·​ca·​bil·​i·​ty (ˌ)imˌpekəˈbilətē 

əm-, 

-lətē, 

-i

: the quality or state of being impeccable

have never pretended to impeccability

—George Meredith

Did you know?

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."

Synonyms of impeccable

Adjective

• perfect
• flawless
• ideal
• excellent
• immaculate
• superb

Examples of impeccable in a Sentence

Adjective

Grandfather found a reason to slip in every five minutes. The empty soda cans had to be removed, the bowl of potato chips refreshed. He was sure that he moved unnoticed, like an impeccable waiter of the old school … —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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The service was impeccable—our water glasses were always full and the timing of our courses was excellent. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 3 July 2026

The Patriots festooned their parties with banners and flags; thus, streamers, bunting or trendy flag banners in red, white, and blue would be an impeccable look. — Brooke Barbier, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026

The defence, built around brick-wall brothers Johan Vasquez and Cesar Montes, has been impeccable. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 1 July 2026

The former First Lady is known for her impeccable fashion and jewelry choices, setting the standard for decades to come. — Moises Mendez Ii, InStyle, 29 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin impeccabilis, from in- + peccare to sin

First Known Use

Adjective

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

impeccable

adjective

im·​pec·​ca·​ble (ˈ)im-ˈpek-ə-bəl 

: free from fault or blame

impeccability

(ˌ)im-ˌpek-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

impeccably

(ˈ)im-ˈpek-ə-blē 

adverb