unattainable
adj.adj. impossible to reach or achieve. You use this to describe a goal or a place that feels too far away to get to.
adj. impossible to reach, achieve, or obtain. Often describes goals that are distant or objects that are physically out of reach.
The summit of the mountain is unattainable for most climbers.
Many people find the dream of living in a large city unattainable due to the high cost of housing.
The philosopher argued that true happiness is an unattainable ideal for most humans, as our desires are constantly shifting and expanding.
From un- + attain + -able.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 19, 2026