Cul-de-sac
idiom / noun /ˈkʌl.də.sæk/ — A dead end — a path or situation with no exit
Definition
Literally a street closed at one end. Metaphorically: a situation, argument, or path that offers no way forward — a dead end that must be backed out of, not pushed through.
Beyond the definition
Cul-de-sac is the word for when you realise the path you've been following has nowhere to go — a quiet moment of recognition that the only way forward is to turn around. Some situations are cul-de-sacs. Some careers. Some relationships.
Origin & history
French: 'bottom of the bag' — from cul (bottom, rump) + de (of) + sac (bag). Literally the sealed bottom of a sack: enter but cannot exit. Appeared in English from the 18th century.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The conversation reached a cul-de-sac — both parties equally convinced, equally immovable.
Some career paths are cul-de-sacs: progress stops, and you didn't notice when.
The only dignified response to a cul-de-sac is turning around before you've gone too deep.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Cul-de-sac” when the meaning fits your context: Literally a street closed at one end. Metaphorically: a situation, argument, or path that offers no way forward — a dead end that must be backed out of, not pushed through.
Synonyms
dead end, impasse, no exit, blind alley
Antonyms
open road, way forward, solution
Related words
Cul-de-sac vs impasse
A cul-de-sac is a physical dead end or a literal street with no exit. An impasse is an abstract situation or negotiation where no progress can be made due to disagreement.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Guardian Standing Before Stone Maze
An adult stands before a towering, complex maze, with a dark, imposing guardian figure at the center entrance.
The maze serves as a metaphorical dead end where the only choice is to turn back. A cul-de-sac is this path that offers no forward progress, requiring you to reverse your steps because there is no way through.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Cul-de-sac" mean?
Cul-de-sac is idiom / noun meaning: A dead end — a path or situation with no exit. Literally a street closed at one end. Metaphorically: a situation, argument, or path that offers no way forward — a dead end that must be backed out of, not pushed through.
Where does the word "Cul-de-sac" come from?
French: 'bottom of the bag' — from cul (bottom, rump) + de (of) + sac (bag). Literally the sealed bottom of a sack: enter but cannot exit. Appeared in English from the 18th century.