impossibility

noun

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

1

: the quality or state of being impossible

the impossibility of knowing the future

2

: something impossible

The snowstorm made travel an impossibility.

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

Years later, Masi showed that sometimes impossibility can become a reality. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025

Much of the conversation around the 12-team CFP is whether a three-loss team deserves to be in the running, so a three-loss champion from a Group of Five conference seemingly would count as an impossibility. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 13 Nov. 2025

Thus, the future American Idol judge achieved the impossibility of having the most popular record in the country without having the most popular song on radio or in stores. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025

The opposition, now mostly in exile, also seems to have internalized the impossibility of challenging the regime from within. —Quico Toro, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for impossibility

• acceptability
• accessibility
• adaptability
• admissibility
• advisability
• affordability
• allowability
• amenability
• amiability
• appealability
• applicability
• availability