Impediment

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Impediment

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

im-PED-ih-munt  /ɪmˈpɛdɪm(ə)nt/

Definition

A hindrance or obstruction in doing something; a factor that makes progress or movement difficult or impossible; a speech defect that makes speaking difficult.

Plain meaning

An impediment is something that gets in the way of progress — an obstacle, a barrier, or a difficulty that slows or prevents something from happening. A lack of funding is an impediment to research. A language barrier is an impediment to communication. A speech impediment is a physical difficulty in speaking, such as a stammer or stutter. The word is the noun form of impede.

Register

Neutral to formal. Impediment is slightly more formal than obstacle, hindrance, or barrier. It is used in legal contexts (legal impediment to marriage, impediment to legal proceedings), medical contexts (speech impediment), and general formal writing. Speech impediment is the most common everyday use.