# dead-end

/ˈdɛdˌɛnd/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dead-end
Updated: 2026-10-10

## Definition

a street or path that is closed at one end so you cannot go through it. It also describes a job or situation that has no chance of getting better or leading to a promotion.

For teachers: a street, passage, or situation that offers no possibility of further progress or exit. Often used metaphorically to describe employment or relationships lacking advancement opportunities.

## Examples

- I realized I was driving down a dead-end street.
- After five years without a raise or a new title, he felt trapped in a dead-end job.
- The negotiations reached a dead-end when neither side was willing to compromise on the primary territorial dispute, leading to a total collapse of the peace talks.

## Usage notes

- Often used as an attributive adjective before a noun (e.g., 'dead-end job').

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.