impossibility
noun
im·pos·si·bil·i·ty (ˌ)im-ˌpä-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
1
: the quality or state of being impossible
2
: something impossible
Example Sentences
The blizzard made travel an impossibility. the impossibility of knowing what the future will bring
Recent Examples on the Web That’s a virtual impossibility with the Democrats’ narrow congressional majorities unless an exception is made in the Senate’s filibuster rules, which the party lacks the votes to do right now. 
Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 16 July 2022 The swastika flying over Herrlingen was like a beacon that showed Anna the impossibility of a future for herself or her students in Hitler’s Germany. Deborah Cadbury, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 July 2022 Texas coach Mike White said holding the Sooners’ offense in check was a virtual impossibility. Ryan Aber, USA TODAY, 10 June 2022 Nothing seems more hopeless than trying to get out of a black hole—in fact, this impossibility is what defines it. Ahmed Almheiri, Scientific American, 17 Aug. 2022 Many people leave their jobs because of their leaders, a lack of flexibility or the impossibility of reconciling their work and personal lives. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 There is violence of one kind or another in almost every story in this collection, but in passing so much of it through the prism of impossibility, Kochai condemns both those who perpetrated that violence and those who looked the other way. Omar El Akkad, The Atlantic, 9 Aug. 2022 In place of that logistical impossibility, the Event Horizon Telescope collects data via eight radio observatories in Greenland, Antarctica and six locations in between, synchronized to atomic clocks. Corinne Purtillstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2022 And that doesn't seem like too much of an impossibility. Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 22 Apr. 2022 See More
Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 16 July 2022 The swastika flying over Herrlingen was like a beacon that showed Anna the impossibility of a future for herself or her students in Hitler’s Germany. Deborah Cadbury, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 July 2022 Texas coach Mike White said holding the Sooners’ offense in check was a virtual impossibility. Ryan Aber, USA TODAY, 10 June 2022 Nothing seems more hopeless than trying to get out of a black hole—in fact, this impossibility is what defines it. Ahmed Almheiri, Scientific American, 17 Aug. 2022 Many people leave their jobs because of their leaders, a lack of flexibility or the impossibility of reconciling their work and personal lives. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 There is violence of one kind or another in almost every story in this collection, but in passing so much of it through the prism of impossibility, Kochai condemns both those who perpetrated that violence and those who looked the other way. Omar El Akkad, The Atlantic, 9 Aug. 2022 In place of that logistical impossibility, the Event Horizon Telescope collects data via eight radio observatories in Greenland, Antarctica and six locations in between, synchronized to atomic clocks. Corinne Purtillstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2022 And that doesn't seem like too much of an impossibility. Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 22 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
impossibility
noun
im·pos·si·bil·i·ty im-ˌpä-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē
plural impossibilities
1
: something that cannot be done or occur
Time travel is an impossibility.
2
: the quality or state of being impossible
Legal Definition
impossibility
noun
im·pos·si·bil·i·ty
plural impossibilities
1
: the quality or state of being impossible
also : the affirmative defense that something (as performance) is impossible
2
: something impossible
3
: impossibility of performance in this entry
— factual impossibility
: impossibility based on factual circumstances
specifically : a partial defense to criminal liability based on the incompletion of an intended criminal act
Note: Factual impossibility is not a complete defense and does allow prosecution for attempt or for another inchoate offense. For example, if the defendant constructed a bomb that failed to explode, factual impossibility would be a defense against murder charges, but not attempted murder.
— impossibility of performance
: a doctrine in contract law that a party may be released from liability for breach of contract for failing to perform an obligation that is rendered impossible by uncontrollable circumstances (as death or failure of the means of delivery)
: a defense to breach of contract or a basis for release from contractual obligations because of impossibility of performance compare frustration, impracticability
— legal impossibility
: impossibility based on or with reference to a law
specifically : a complete defense to criminal liability based on the commitment of acts that are not criminal or illegal
Note: Legal impossibility is founded on the principle that an act is not a crime unless there is a law prohibiting it.