Catch-22
Pronunciation: (kach'twen"tē-t'), [key]
— pl. Catch-22's, Catch-22s.
- a frustrating situation in which one is trapped by contradictory regulations or conditions.
- any illogical or paradoxical problem or situation; dilemma.
- a condition, regulation, etc., preventing the resolution of a problem or situation; catch.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.