impediment

C1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ɪmˈpɛdɪmənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #26668

Meanings

1

noun
Something that gets in the way and makes progress difficult.

A lack of funding was the main impediment to the project.
2

noun
A condition that makes speaking or hearing difficult.

He overcame a speech impediment to become a confident public speaker.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · something that gets in the... obstruction balk

More hindrance obstacle

Word family

Forms impediments

Derived forms impedimentalimpedimented

Related forms impedeimpedimenta

Etymology

From Middle English impediment, borrowed from Latin impedimentum.

*ped- Proto-Indo-European impediment Middle English impedimentum Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# impediment

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɪmˈpɛdɪmənt/
**Frequency rank:** 26668

## Meanings
1. Something that gets in the way and makes progress difficult.
2. A condition that makes speaking or hearing difficult.

## Examples
- A lack of funding was the main impediment to the project.
- He overcame a speech impediment to become a confident public speaker.

## Synonyms
- hindrance
- obstacle
- obstruction

## Derived Forms
- impedimental
- impedimented

## Related Forms
- impede
- impedimenta

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ped-
- Root: impediment
- Root: impedimentum

## Etymology
From Middle English impediment, borrowed from Latin impedimentum.

## AI Etymology
Impediment is from Middle English impediment, borrowed from Latin impedimentum. In present-day use, it can mean something that gets in the way and makes progress difficult, or a condition that makes speaking or hearing difficult. Related forms include impede, impedimenta. Derived formations include impedimental, impedimented.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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