impracticability

noun

im·​prac·​ti·​ca·​bil·​i·​ty im-ˌprak-ti-kə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

1

: the state of being impracticable

2

: a doctrine in contract law: relief from obligations under a contract may be granted when performance has been rendered excessively difficult, expensive, or harmful by an unforeseen contingency

also : a defense to breach of contract on the ground that it has been rendered impracticable

called also commercial impracticability, impracticability of performance

compare frustration, impossibility of performance at impossibility

Note: Under section 2-615 of the Uniform Commercial Code, the impracticability must arise “by the occurrence of a contingency the non-occurrence of which was a basic assumption on which the contract was made” or by compliance with the law.

3

: excessive difficulty in carrying out a procedure (as joinder)