Meanings
plural impactions
- countableuncountableA compression; the packing together of loose matter.
- 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
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna disorder in which a tooth is so crowded in its socket that it cannot erupt normally
nouna sharp collision produced by striking or dashing against something
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinimpingere“to dash against, impinge”
- Englishimpaction
From Latin impingere (“to dash against, impinge”).
More words from Latin
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
Cite this entry
impaction. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/impaction
“impaction.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/impaction. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “impaction,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/impaction.
Source: impaction on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.