Which of the following is a recognized defense to a contract breach in Utah?

Impossibility is a recognized defense to a contract breach in Utah because it arises when a party is unable to fulfill their contractual obligations due to circumstances that are beyond their control and that make performance impossible. This could include events like natural disasters, sudden illness, or the destruction of the subject matter of the contract. When a party can demonstrate that performance has become impossible, they may be excused from liability for breach of contract.

In terms of the other choices, while anticipatory breach does play a significant role in contract law, it primarily deals with situations where one party indicates that they will not perform their contractual duties before the performance is due, leading to a breach before the actual time of performance. Promissory estoppel is not a defense to a breach of contract but rather a legal principle that can enforce a promise in the absence of a formal contract if someone relied on that promise to their detriment. Force majeure is similar to impossibility, as it involves unforeseen events that prevent a party from fulfilling a contract; however, the specifics of how this is applied can vary under Utah law compared to traditional impossibility.