Word of the Day

: October 25, 2015

impeccable

adjective im-PECK-uh-bul

What It Means

1 : not capable of sinning or liable to sin

2 : free from fault or blame : flawless

impeccable in Context

Although the restaurant was a bit expensive, we found its memorable cuisine, luxurious decor, and impeccable service to be well worth the price.

"When it comes to keeping the home sealed and operational, it's best to hire skilled contractors with impeccable references who are licensed to do what is needed…." — Brett J. West, The Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2015

Did You Know?

The word impeccable has been used in English since at least 1531. It derives from the Latin word impeccabilis, a combination of the Latin prefix in-, meaning "not," and the verb peccare, meaning "to sin." Peccare has other descendants in English. There is peccadillo, meaning "a slight offense," and peccant, meaning "guilty of a moral offense" or simply "faulty." There is also peccavi, which comes from Latin, where it literally means "I have sinned," and which is used in English as a noun meaning "an acknowledgment of sin."