impediment

noun

im·​ped·​i·​ment im-ˈpe-də-mənt How to pronounce impediment (audio)
1
: something that impedes
especially : an impairment (such as a stutter or a lisp) that interferes with the proper articulation of speech
2
: a bar or hindrance (such as lack of sufficient age) to a lawful marriage

Did you know?

Impediment comes from a Latin verb that meant "to interfere with" or "to get in the way of progress", as if by tripping up the feet of someone walking. In English, impediment still suggests an obstruction or obstacle along a path; for example, a lack of adequate roads and bridges would be called an impediment to economic development. Impediments usually get in the way of something we want. So we may speak of an impediment to communication, marriage, or progress--but something that slows the progress of aging, disease, or decay is rarely called an impediment.

Examples of impediment in a Sentence

tough going for the burros on the canyon trail, even without the added impediment of heavy loads
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Fifty-five percent of respondents identified this as a substantial impediment, while only 26% cited compensation. Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 12 June 2025 Both Ukraine and Russia have sought to frame the other as the main impediment to a peace deal. David Brennan, ABC News, 4 June 2025 To break down these impediments to growth, the EU needs to improve cross-border infrastructure (including in energy), harmonize capital market regulations, and remove remaining intra-EU trade frictions. Theodore Bunzel, Foreign Affairs, 30 May 2025 One impediment for adoptees initiating searches is that many Chinese, even to this day, know nothing of international adoption. Barbara Demick, New Yorker, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for impediment

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of impediment was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Impediment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impediment. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

impediment

noun
im·​ped·​i·​ment im-ˈped-ə-mənt How to pronounce impediment (audio)
1
: something that impedes
2
: a defect in speech

Medical Definition

impediment

noun
im·​ped·​i·​ment im-ˈped-ə-mənt How to pronounce impediment (audio)
: something that impedes
children with deafness or hearing impediments
especially : an impairment (as a stutter or a lisp) that interferes with the proper articulation of speech

Legal Definition

impediment

noun
im·​ped·​i·​ment im-ˈpe-də-mənt How to pronounce impediment (audio)
: something that prevents or interferes with a process, power, or right
should have known of the legal impediments to the execution of any judgment against the police juryPenalber v. Blount, 550 So. 2d 577 (1989)
specifically : a bar to the formation of a valid contract or marriage compare nullity

More from Merriam-Webster on impediment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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