impracticable

impracticable
impracticable, impractical
These two words have related meanings to do with the impossibility of doing something, and correspond to the positive forms practicable, practical. Impractical is a relatively recent (19c) word and means the same as unpractical, i.e. ‘not practical or realistic’; it can also be used of a person, with the meaning ‘lacking the ability to do practical things’, and usually has a general application. Impracticable means ‘not able to be carried out, not feasible’, and is more usually applied to particular cases. In practice, however, the two words are close enough in meaning to run the frequent risk of getting in each other's way:

• As his arms were full of books it would have been impracticable for him to wave —J. I. M. Stewart, 1974

• I have always been ridiculously impractical…I cannot repair a fuse —F. Howerd, 1974

• Her plans were so impractical that someone like me was necessary to point this out —Anita Brookner, 1987

• It would be impracticable to provide full-time security in cemeteries —Birmingham Post, 2003

• If she lost her licence it would have a catastrophic effect.…It would be totally impractical for her to use public transport —Essex Chronicle, 2007.


Modern English usage. 2014.

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Synonyms:
, , / , , , , , , / (as a road)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Impracticable — Im*prac ti*ca*ble, a. 1. Not practicable; incapable of being performed, or accomplished by the means employed, or at command; impossible; as, an impracticable undertaking. [1913 Webster] 2. Not to be overcome, persuaded, or controlled by any… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • impracticable — im·prac·ti·ca·ble /im prak ti kə bəl/ adj: excessively difficult to perform esp. by reason of an unforeseen contingency a contract made impracticable by the new regulation Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • impracticable — adjetivo 1. Que no se puede realizar o poner en práctica: Tu proyecto es impracticable, no tenemos dinero. 2. [Camino] que no reúne las condiciones suficientes para poder pasar por él con un mínimo de comodidad: En invierno el pueblo queda… …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • impracticable — [im prak′ti kə bəl] adj. [< IN 2 + PRACTICABLE] 1. not capable of being carried out in practice [an impracticable plan] 2. not capable of being used [an impracticable road] 3. Now Rare not capable of being managed or dealt with; intractable …   English World dictionary

  • impracticable — (adj.) incapable of being done, 1670s, from assimilated form of IN (Cf. in ) (1) not, opposite of + PRACTICABLE (Cf. practicable). Earlier in a sense of impassable (1650s) …   Etymology dictionary

  • impracticable — (De in 2 y practicable). 1. adj. Que no se puede practicar. 2. Dicho de un camino o de un paraje: Por donde no se puede caminar o no se puede pasar sin mucha dificultad …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • impracticable — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ impossible in practice to do or carry out. DERIVATIVES impracticability noun impracticably adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • impracticable — ► adjetivo 1 Que no puede ser practicado o realizado: ■ su aventura parecía impracticable, pero lo consiguió al fin. SINÓNIMO imposible irrealizable 2 Que no puede ser transitado: ■ al llegar al camino intransitable tuvieron que dar la vuelta.… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • impracticable — [[t]ɪmpræ̱ktɪkəb(ə)l[/t]] ADJ GRADED: usu v link ADJ If something such as a course of action is impracticable, it is impossible to do. Experts have told them that such measures would be highly impracticable and almost impossible to apply.… …   English dictionary

  • impracticable — adjective impossible in practice to do or carry out. Derivatives impracticability noun impracticably adverb Usage Although similar in meaning, impracticable and impractical are not used in exactly the same way. Impracticable means ‘impossible to… …   English new terms dictionary

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