Words / C2

im-PEK-uh-bl/ɪmˈpekəbl/

Impeccable means without fault, especially of manners, taste, English, or timing: impeccable judgement, impeccable French. Perfect is everyday; faultless is close. Immaculate (this batch) is often cleanliness. Peccadillo is a small fault — same Latin pecc- (sin). Do not award impeccable to courtesy that skips the fire door.

Meaning

Without any faults or mistakes; perfect in behaviour or taste.

Examples

• “Impeccable manners at the board did not restore the night bus.”
• “Perfect is everyday. Immaculate is spotless (this batch). Unimpeachable is a legal/moral cousin. Polish without a date is still a gap. You can have impeccable prose and a missing n.”

Good to know

Faultless (manners, taste, performance). Everyday: perfect. Contrast: immaculate (often clean). Courtesy ≠ cover.

Near in meaning

faultless

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