impossibility

noun

im·​pos·​si·​bil·​i·​ty (ˌ)im-ˌpä-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

1

: the quality or state of being impossible

2

: something impossible

Examples of impossibility in a Sentence

The blizzard made travel an impossibility.

the impossibility of knowing what the future will bring

Recent Examples on the Web

America becomes object: a proverbial impossibility, both the flood and the ark. —New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023

But Arrow proved a striking fact that has come to be known as Arrow’s impossibility theorem: there is only one type of aggregator that satisfies both conditions, a dictatorship. —Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2023

Then there is the sheer impossibility of pleasing absolutely everyone. —Emma Spedding, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2023

It’s become an impossibility for Staley to order OC Kellen Moore to run the ball twice in a row under normal conditions. —Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Oct. 2023

For most of his life, performing it in China would have been an impossibility. —Han Zhang, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2023

The judicial system is being forced to reckon with the physiological impossibility of the former president ever not talking. —Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic, 23 Oct. 2023

Scientists calculated that, to absorb the carbon the facility would pump out in its life span, the company needed to plant some fifty-two million trees—an impossibility in densely populated Connecticut. —Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023

The move to Corvallis also has allowed Uiagalelei to reconnect with his Polynesian heritage, a virtual impossibility in Clemson. —Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 1 Sep. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

impossibility

noun

im·​pos·​si·​bil·​i·​ty (ˌ)im-ˌpäs-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

plural impossibilities

1

: the quality or state of being impossible

2

: something impossible

Legal Definition

impossibility

noun

im·​pos·​si·​bil·​i·​ty

plural impossibilities

1

: the quality or state of being impossible

also : the affirmative defense that something (as performance) is impossible

2

: something impossible

3

: impossibility of performance in this entry

— factual impossibility

: impossibility based on factual circumstances

specifically : a partial defense to criminal liability based on the incompletion of an intended criminal act

Note: Factual impossibility is not a complete defense and does allow prosecution for attempt or for another inchoate offense. For example, if the defendant constructed a bomb that failed to explode, factual impossibility would be a defense against murder charges, but not attempted murder.

— impossibility of performance

: a doctrine in contract law that a party may be released from liability for breach of contract for failing to perform an obligation that is rendered impossible by uncontrollable circumstances (as death or failure of the means of delivery)

: a defense to breach of contract or a basis for release from contractual obligations because of impossibility of performance compare frustration, impracticability

— legal impossibility

: impossibility based on or with reference to a law

specifically : a complete defense to criminal liability based on the commitment of acts that are not criminal or illegal

Note: Legal impossibility is founded on the principle that an act is not a crime unless there is a law prohibiting it.