Today's Word

Indelible

in-DEL-uh-buhl

Definition

(adjective) Not able to be erased, removed, or forgotten.

Example

Her words left an indelible impression on everyone in the room.

Fun Fact

Originally describing ink that wouldn’t wash out, indelible now applies to memories, impressions, or even emotions. From tattoos to trauma to life-changing speeches, the word shows up in memoirs, court rulings, and even marketing slogans. Anything truly indelible leaves a mark that time, regret, or scrubbing can’t undo.

Previous Words

Impinge

Today's Word

Impinge

im-PINJ

Definition

(verb) To have a strong effect on something; to encroach or trespass on something, especially rights or freedom.

Example

The new surveillance policy was challenged in court on the grounds that it impinged on the privacy rights of ordinary citizens.

Word Origin

From Latin impingere, meaning “to drive into or strike against” — formed from in- (into) + pangere (to fix, fasten, or drive in). The root pangere also gives us impact and impacted — all carrying the sense of something being forcefully driven into something else. The word entered English in the 16th century with the physical sense of collision before evolving into its broader modern meaning of encroachment or infringement.

Fun Fact

The legal concept of impingement has become one of the most contested areas of modern intellectual property law. When one party claims another’s trademark, patent, or copyright “impinges” on their own, the resulting cases can drag on for decades and cost millions. Some of the most famous impingement disputes in history include battles over band names, font designs, and even the specific shade of a color — Louboutin’s landmark case over its trademarked red sole being one of the most widely cited examples of just how far the concept of encroachment can be pushed in a courtroom.

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Indelible

Definition

Example

Previous Words

Impinge

Impinge

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Impinge

Permeate

Gamut

Saccharine

Intractable