Definition

Describing something that is tightly packed or wedged in a way that prevents normal movement or function, often used in medical contexts.

Example

The dentist said the wisdom tooth was impacted and needed to be removed.

Conversation

Did you hear about the road construction near the school?

Yeah, I heard it really impacted traffic this morning.

I can imagine! It must have made everyone late for class.

Definitely, it's frustrating when that happens.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Impacted is formed from "im-" (meaning into) and "pact" (from Latin "pactum", meaning something that is agreed upon or fixed). The word describes something that has been pressed or forced into a space, often used in medical contexts to refer to teeth that are lodged in the jaw.

Memory Tip

Think of something being pressed 'into' ('im-') a fixed position ('pact') — that's why impacted means something is lodged or stuck.

Visually Confused Words