impracticable

adjective

im·​prac·​ti·​ca·​ble (ˌ)im-ˈprak-ti-kə-bəl 

1

: impassable

an impracticable road

2

: not practicable : incapable of being performed or accomplished by the means employed or at command

an impracticable proposal

impracticability

(ˌ)im-ˌprak-ti-kə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

impracticably

(ˌ)im-ˈprak-ti-kə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• impractical
• inoperable
• nonpractical
• unserviceable
• unusable
• unworkable
• useless

Examples of impracticable in a Sentence

an impracticable plan for dealing with the recent intrusion of bears in the suburban neighborhood

Recent Examples on the Web

The plan’s 10-year phase-in period, which was intended to lower costs and make implementation more feasible, was criticized as impracticable. —Gabrielle M. Etzel, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 22 July 2024

Contractual force majeure is rarely invoked and enforced to allow the nonperformance of contracts that have become either impossible or impracticable due to some catastrophic event, including natural disasters and wars. —Alexander Talel, WSJ, 22 Oct. 2023

Besides, the structure of Prescott’s contract makes that monumentally impracticable. —Dallas News, 27 Jan. 2023

While guides to sustainable touring do exist, their suggestions are often unaffordable or impracticable for most musicians. —Jake Blount, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

impracticable

adjective

im·​prac·​ti·​ca·​ble (ˈ)im-ˈprak-ti-kə-bəl 

: difficult to put into practice or use

an impracticable plan

impracticability

(ˌ)im-ˌprak-ti-kə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

Legal Definition

impracticable

adjective

im·​prac·​ti·​ca·​ble im-ˈprak-ti-kə-bəl 

: excessively difficult to perform especially by reason of an unforeseen contingency

a contract made impracticable by the new regulation