English Reference
Adjective

impassable

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌɪmˈpæsəbəɫ/ UK /ɪmpˈɑːsəbəl/ im·pass·able

adj.too difficult or dangerous to travel through. You use this to describe a road, path, or area that is blocked or too rough for vehicles or people to pass.

adj.impossible to pass through or over; blocked by obstacles or conditions that prevent travel. Often used to describe terrain, weather, or physical barriers.


SIMPLE

The heavy snow made the mountain road impassable.

CONTEXTUAL

After the storm, the bridge was declared impassable due to structural damage and rising water levels.

COMPLEX

The dense jungle created an impassable barrier that forced the explorers to turn back before they could reach the river's source.


From im- + pass + -able.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated