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

As the sun set, the last water drained out of a 1-million gallon tank tucked away in a cul-de-sac north of Palisades Village. —Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025

His cul-de-sac in Kansas City’s Northland is filled with loyal members of Chiefs nation, all of whom come together for a litany of rituals to kick off every single game. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2025

Editors’ Picks 10 Gut Myths, Corrected Are Dental X-Rays Safe? Image People who live on the Camino Azar cul-de-sac in Santa Clarita’s new Tesoro Highlands community were evacuating midafternoon Wednesday, after watching wearily as the fire grew for several hours and checking in with one another. —Corina Knoll, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

The city owns the former gas station across the street, meaning its support would theoretically be enough under state law to create a short mall with businesses to the north on Chicago Avenue accessible via a cul-de-sac. —Kyle Stokes, Axios, 23 Jan. 2025

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