impasse
IM-pas
/ˈæmpæs/
A situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement; a deadlock.
A state of total standstill where neither side is willing to make the next concession.
The story behind the word. Coined by the French writer Voltaire in the 18th century to describe a cul-de-sac or dead-end street. It quickly migrated from physical geography to the landscape of human disagreement, representing a road where you simply cannot move forward.
Word relationships
- deadlock: Deadlock is a physical or mechanical standstill, whereas impasse is more often used for intellectual or diplomatic standstills.
- breakthrough: A breakthrough is a sudden advance or resolution, whereas an impasse is a complete lack of progress.
Commonly confused with
- stalemate: Stalemate is a chess term where no legal moves are possible, while impasse is a general term for a negotiation deadlock.
Collocations
- reach an impasse
- break the impasse
- hopeless impasse
Idioms & expressions
- dead end
- brick wall
- at a standstill
Example sentences
- "The peace talks reached an impasse over the issue of border security." Describing a deadlocked political negotiation.
- "Negotiations reached an impasse, forcing the mediator to call for a temporary recess." Discussing a difficult corporate standoff.
Memory hook
Think of 'impossible to pass'. An impasse is a road you cannot pass. Impossible to pass.
When not to use
Do not use for a minor delay; an impasse is a complete block.
Fun facts
- Voltaire popularized the word because he wanted a more elegant term than 'cul-de-sac' (which literally means 'bottom of a bag') to describe a dead end.
Explore more words
stalemate, deadlock, standstill, gridlock, logjam, Intransigent
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