English Meaning & Definitions
Unable to be broken into, captured, or penetrated; extremely strong and secure.
- “The medieval fortress stood high on the cliff, appearing completely impregnable to enemy forces.”
- “Despite repeated cyberattacks, the financial institution's security system remained impregnable.”
Unable to be destroyed, undermined, or overcome (such as a belief, position, or defense).
- “She built an impregnable defense against the accusations, backed by undeniable proof.”
- “His belief in the core values of the organization was impregnable.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “impregnable”.
Derived from Late Middle English, via Old French from Medieval Latin 'imprægnabilis', formed from the Latin prefix 'in-' (not) plus 'prægnare' (to be pregnant, to be filled/full). The root sense shifted from 'that which cannot be made pregnant' to 'cannot be conquered or overcome' (literally, impossible to break into or breach).
Think of 'in-' (not) plus 'pregnant' (filled with life); a fortress so strong it cannot be 'filled' or breached by an enemy.
Frequently Asked Questions About “impregnable”
1. What is the meaning of “impregnable” in English?
In English, impregnable (adjective) is defined as: “Unable to be broken into, captured, or penetrated; extremely strong and secure.”.
2. How do you use “impregnable” in a sentence?
“The medieval fortress stood high on the cliff, appearing completely impregnable to enemy forces.”
3. What are English synonyms of “impregnable”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “impregnable”?
Derived from Late Middle English, via Old French from Medieval Latin 'imprægnabilis', formed from the Latin prefix 'in-' (not) plus 'prægnare' (to be pregnant, to be filled/full). The root sense shifted from 'that which cannot be made pregnant' to 'cannot be conquered or overcome' (literally, impossible to break into or breach).
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