impossibility
ihm-po-sih-BIH-lee-tee
Impossibility (noun) means something that cannot happen or be done. Example: “A perpetual motion machine is a physical impossibility.”
noun
1
Something that cannot happen or be done.
"A perpetual motion machine is a physical impossibility."
2
The quality of being impossible.
"Breathing had become difficult, swallowing acutely painful, and sleep an impossibility—for whenever he dropped off, the patient would choke and wake up frantically struggling for air."
— Aldous Huxley (1962)
"Meeting the deadline is an impossibility; there is no way we can be ready in time."
"They eventually accepted the impossibility of finishing on time."
How to use impossibility
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that simply cannot be done, or the fact of being unable to happen.
Common pairings
a virtual impossibility
practical impossibility
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Word forms
- Plural
- impossibilities
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A perpetual motion machine is a physical _____.
Etymology
From Latin impossibilitas, from im- + possibility.
Synonyms
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impossibleness
castle in the air
pie in the sky
pipe dream
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for impossibility
See all rhymes for impossibility →Frequently asked questions
What does “impossibility” mean?
The word “impossibility” means something that cannot happen or be done. In plain terms, something that simply cannot be done, or the fact of being unable to happen.
How do you pronounce “impossibility”?
“Impossibility” is pronounced ihm-po-sih-BIH-lee-tee (/ɪmˌpɑsɪˈbɪliti/ in IPA).
How do you use “impossibility” in a sentence?
Here is “impossibility” used in a sentence: “A perpetual motion machine is a physical impossibility.”
What is another word for “impossibility”?
Words with a similar meaning to “impossibility” include castle in the air, pie in the sky and pipe dream.
What is the opposite of “impossibility”?
The opposite of “impossibility” — its antonyms — are certainty, inevitability, possibility and sure thing.
What part of speech is “impossibility”?
“Impossibility” is a noun.
Where does the word “impossibility” come from?
The word “impossibility” comes from Latin. From Latin impossibilitas, from im- + possibility.
Is “impossibility” a common word?
“Impossibility” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
