Impracticable

/ɪmˈpræktɪkəbl/

Meaning & Definition

adjective
Not feasible or possible to put into practice; not capable of being done or used.
The plan to build a road through the swamp was deemed impracticable due to the environmental impact.
Difficult or impossible to achieve; not workable.
They proposed an impracticable solution that would require abundant resources that they did not possess.
Incapable of being applied or carried out.
His scheme for restructuring the company was criticized as being impracticable and unrealistic.

Etymology

From Middle French 'impracticable' and from Late Latin 'impracticabilis', meaning 'not to be acted upon'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

impracticable route
a path or method that cannot be successfully followed or executed.
impracticable proposal
a suggestion or plan that cannot realistically be implemented.

Related Words

impractical
not sensible or realistic.
unachievable
not able to be achieved.
unrealistic
not realistic or practical.

Slang Meanings

Too much hassle
Trying to get that project approved is just too much hassle; it's impracticable.
Not gonna happen
When I suggested hiking up that mountain in a day, they said that's just impracticable, not gonna happen.