impaction

I1M3P3A1C3T1I1O1N1
/ɪmˈpækʃən/

noun

A compression; the packing together of loose matter.

Similar
impacted toothimpingement
UncommonScrabble 15

Meanings

nounimpaction (countable and uncountable, plural impactions)

plural impactions

  1. countableuncountableA compression; the packing together of loose matter.
  2. countableuncountableSomething packed together tightly; a mass of densely-packed matter.
  3. countableuncountablegastroenterologyA solid, immobile bulk of stool.

    As plastics cannot be easily egested, these can accumulate within the stomach, causing impaction and leading ultimately to death.

    2021, Alice A. Horton, Isobelle Blissett, Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Freshwater Aquatic, Terrestrial and Avian Migratory Species in the Asia and Pacific Region, Convention on Migratory Species, page 22
  4. countableuncountabledentistryThe failure of a tooth to erupt into the dental arch, because of adjacent teeth, dense overlying bone, excessive soft tissue, or other factor.
  5. countableuncountableeducationThe situation where an institute, usually a college or university, receives more applications from qualified applicants than the number of spaces available, meaning that meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna disorder in which a tooth is so crowded in its socket that it cannot erupt normally

Similar
impacted tooth

nouna sharp collision produced by striking or dashing against something

Broader
Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinimpingere“to dash against, impinge”
  2. Englishimpaction

From Latin impingere (“to dash against, impinge”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French enclavement, inclusion
  • enclavementfailure of a tooth to erupt
  • inclusionfailure of a tooth to erupt
Portuguese impactação, retenção
  • impactaçãofailure of a tooth to erupt
  • retençãofailure of a tooth to erupt

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with impaction

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

impaction. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/impaction

MLA

“impaction.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/impaction. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “impaction,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/impaction.

Source: impaction on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.