cul-de-sac

noun

ˈkəl-di-ˌsak 

ˈku̇l-;

ˌkəl-di-ˈsak,

ˌku̇l-

plural cul-de-sacs ˈkəl-di-ˌsaks 

ˈku̇l-;

ˌkəl-di-ˈsaks,

ˌku̇l-

also culs-de-sac ˈkəl(z)-di-ˌsak 

ˈku̇l(z)-;

ˌkəl(z)-di-ˈsak,

ˌku̇l(z)-

1

: a blind diverticulum or pouch

2

: a street or passage closed at one end

Our house is located on a quiet cul-de-sac.

3

: blind alley

If your job is a cul-de-sac, you have to quit or accept the fact that your career is over.

—Seth Godin

Examples of cul-de-sac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Now Bungalow, Beachwood Canyon Photo: Courtesy of Airbnb This circa 1920s bungalow rests in a peaceful cul-de-sac in Beachwood Canyon and is full of natural light and innate charm. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2024

Location: Villa Avellana is on a gated cul-de-sac on Playa Prieta, a remote beach with no homes except for the Prieta Beach Clubhouse, a members-only club with a full gym, restaurant, beach chairs, and other perks. —Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024

Cougar Town began life as a show about Courteney Cox dating much younger guys; audiences didn’t like this, so within a half-dozen episodes, the show pivoted into a hangout comedy about Cox and her appealing friends from the cul-de-sac. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2024

The seven-bedroom Hamilton Road home was built in 2005 on a cul-de-sac in the Deerfield Elementary district. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, bottom of the bag

First Known Use

1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cul-de-sac

noun

ˈkəl-di-ˌsak,

ˈku̇l-

plural cul-de-sacs

ˈkəl-di-ˌsaks,

ˈku̇l-

also culs-de-sac

ˈkəl(z)-di-ˌsak,

ˈku̇l(z)-

: a street or passage closed at one end

Medical Definition

cul-de-sac

noun

ˈkəl-di-ˌsak, ˈku̇l-; ˌkəl-di-ˈ, ˌku̇l- 

plural culs-de-sac ˈkəl(z)-, ˈku̇l(z)-, ˌkəl(z)-, ˌku̇l(z)-  also cul-de-sacs -ˌsaks, -ˈsaks 

1

: a blind diverticulum or pouch

also : the closed end of such a pouch

2

: pouch of douglas