Definition of impediment
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
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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 of impediment from the Web
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Yellen discussed it at length during Senate testimony last week and regional Fed banks say companies in their areas cite it as a hiring impediment.
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The tree used to block part of the seventh hole's tee shot, but that impediment is gone.
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Landrieu received widespread praise for his remarks on race relations and how Confederate symbols represent an impediment toward the future rather than a romanticized past.
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On Saturday, a nationwide sales tax replaces the current hodgepodge of business taxes that vary from state to state and are seen as an impediment to growth.
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The city’s economy is now equivalent to just 3 percent of the national economy, compared with 19 percent two decades ago, emboldening Chinese policy makers who see political dissent as an impediment to economic growth.
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Then there was the injury factor — easily the biggest impediment to a league featuring players in their late 30s and 40s.
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But clouds and other impediments have deferred the launch over and over.
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Some feel a younger general manager wouldn’t necessarily be an impediment.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impediment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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.
First Known Use of impediment
14th century
IMPEDIMENT Defined for English Language Learners
impediment
playDefinition of impediment for English Language Learners
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: something that makes it difficult to do or complete something : something that interferes with movement or progress
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: a condition that makes it difficult to speak normally
IMPEDIMENT Defined for Kids
impediment
playDefinition of impediment for Students
1 : something that interferes with movement or progress
2 : a condition that makes it difficult to speak normally
Word Root of impediment
The Latin word pes, meaning “foot,” and its form pedis give us the root ped. A pedestrian is a person who travels on foot. Before trains, planes, and cars, an expedition, or journey, was often carried out by foot. An impediment makes movement or progress difficult, as if getting in the way of the feet.
Medical Dictionary
Law Dictionary
impediment
playLegal Definition of impediment
: 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 jury — Penalber v. Blount, 550 So. 2d 577 (1989); specifically : a bar to the formation of a valid contract or marriage — compare nullity
Learn More about impediment
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for impediment Spanish Central: Translation of impediment Nglish: Translation of impediment for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of impediment for Arabic speakers
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