impediment meaning and examples

Meaning

An impediment is something that makes it difficult or impossible for a person to do something, or for something to happen. It means an obstacle, barrier, or hindrance.

Grammar and Usage

• Part of speech: Noun (countable/uncountable)

• Commonly used in both formal and everyday English.

• Often followed by to when describing what is being hindered:

  • "an impediment to progress"
  • "an impediment to communication"

Common Phrases

• speech impediment → a difficulty in speaking clearly.
• legal impediment → something in law that prevents an action (e.g., marriage impediment).
• an impediment to growth → something that hinders development.
• without impediment → freely, without barriers.

Collocations

• serious impediment
• major impediment
• physical impediment
• remove an impediment
• create an impediment
• legal impediment

Examples

1. Poverty can be a serious impediment to education.
2. A lack of funding is the main impediment to the project’s success.
3. She overcame a speech impediment with years of practice.
4. Bureaucratic red tape is often an impediment to progress.
5. He spoke without impediment after receiving therapy.
6. A heavy workload may be an impediment to work-life balance.
7. Fear can be an impediment to achieving one’s goals.
8. The new law removes legal impediments to small business growth.

Synonyms or Related

• Obstacle
• Barrier
• Hindrance
• Obstruction
• Difficulty
• Drawback