# impregnable

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɪmˈpɹɛɡ.nəˌb(ə)l/ · frequency rank #44,859

## Definitions
1. Of a fortress or other fortified place: able to withstand all attacks; impenetrable, inconquerable, unvanquishable.
2. Too strong to be defeated or overcome; invincible.

## Etymology
From Late Middle English imprenable, impregnable (“impossible to capture, impregnable”), from Old French imprenable (modern French imprenable (“impregnable”)), from im- (a variant of in- (prefix meaning ‘not’) + prenable (“(military) of a building, position, etc.: takable”) (from prendre (“to take”) + -able (suffix meaning ‘creating an effect or influence’)). Prendre is derived from Latin prēndere, present active infinitive of prēndō, a variant of prehendō (“to catch, lay hold of; to grasp; to grab, snatch; to seize, take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- (“to find; to hold; to seize, take”). The intrusive g in the English word was modelled after words like deign and reign.

## Common misspellings (18)
`immpregnable`, `impergnable`, `imppregnable`, `impreganble`, `impreggnable`, `impregnabble`, `impregnabel`, `impregnablle`, `impregnalbe`, `impregnbale`, `impregnible`, `impregnnable`, `imprengable`, `imprgenable`, `imprregnable`, `imrpegnable`, `ipmregnable`, `mipregnable`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/impregnable