Impediment Meaning
/ɪmˈpɛdɪmənt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA hindrance; that which impedes or obstructs progress; impedance.
nounA disability, especially one affecting the hearing or speech.
Sentence Examples
I don't consider my myopia as an impediment.
Tom has a speech impediment, which gets worse if he has to speak in public.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
His stutter was a major ____ to his dream of becoming a radio announcer.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A lack of proper funding proved to be a major ____ to the completion of the large project.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English impediment, borrowed from Latin impedimentum.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"I require and charge you (as you will aunswere at the dreadefull daye of iudgemente, when the secretes of all hartes shalbee disclosed) that if either of you doe knowe any impedimente why ye maie not bee lawfully ioyned together in matrimonie, that ye confesse it."
— 1549 March 7, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, “Of Matrimonye”, in The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacramentes, […], London: […] Edowardi Whitchurche […], →OCLC:
"Thus far into the bowels of the land
Have we marched on without impediment."
— c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
"Your kind Deſire to knovv the State of my Health had not been unſatiſfied of ſo long, had not that ill State been the Impediment."
— 1720 July 30 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Alexander Pope, “To the Same [Letter to the Honourable Robert Digby, from Mr. Pope]”, in Mr Pope’s Literary Correspondence for Thirty Years; from 1704 to 1734. […], volume I, London: […] E[dmund] Curll, […], published 1735, →OCLC, page 129:
"I had gazed upon the fortifications and impediments that seemed to keep human beings from entering the citadel of nature, and rashly and ignorantly I had repined."
— 1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC:
"Patterns incised on this mineral form seem to evade the eye; you have to stand at a certain distance, and in a particular light, to make them out. This impediment is part of the charm for him."
— 1993, Carol Shields, chapter 2, in The Stone Diaries, Toronto, Ont.: Random House of Canada, page 64:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
His stutter was a major ____ to his dream of becoming a radio announcer.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A lack of proper funding proved to be a major ____ to the completion of the large project.