impediment
gb/ɪmpˈɛdəmənt/ us/ɪmpˈɛdəmənt/
C1
English
akadály, beszédhiba
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
akadály
B1
Usage pattern:
[an impediment] to [something]
Lack of funding is a major impediment to expanding the program.
A finanszírozás hiánya komoly akadálya a program bővítésének.
The new rules removed an impediment to hiring international staff.
Az új szabályok megszüntettek egy akadályt a nemzetközi munkatársak felvételének útjából.
Traffic was an impediment to getting there on time.
Learner examples
Bad weather was an impediment to our trip.
A rossz idő akadályt jelentett az utazásunk során.
High costs are an impediment to buying a house.
A magas költségek akadályt jelentenek a házvásárlásban.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the noun impediment with the verb implement; impediment is a thing that blocks progress.
Meaning
something that slows progress
Collocations
a major impediment
|a serious impediment
|a significant impediment
|a potential impediment
|an impediment to progress
|an impediment to growth
|an impediment to success
|remove an impediment
|overcome an impediment
|pose an impediment
Synonyms
obstacle (Most common everyday word for a difficulty in the way.)
|
barrier (Often suggests something that blocks access or prevents change.)
|
hindrance (Emphasizes slowing something down rather than stopping it.)
|
drawback (More like a disadvantage than a direct blockage.)
Antonyms
help (Something that makes action or progress easier.)
|
aid (Support that assists progress.)
|
advantage (A positive factor that improves chances of success.)
Themes
daily_life
|work
|problems
|business
Definition
Something that blocks you or makes something harder.
Something that makes progress, movement, or an action difficult or slower, or that prevents it from happening.
NOUN
C1
2
beszédhiba
B2
Usage pattern:
a/an impediment (in speech)
As a child, he had a speech impediment and avoided speaking in class.
Gyerekkorában beszédhibája volt, ezért kerülte, hogy megszólaljon az órán.
She worked with a therapist to manage her impediment.
Terapeutával dolgozott, hogy kezelni tudja a beszédhibáját.
The actor learned to imitate a slight impediment for the role.
Learner examples
He has a speech impediment.
Beszédhibája van.
She speaks clearly now and her impediment is much better.
Most már tisztán beszél, és a beszédhibája sokat javult.
Common mistake:
This meaning is most common in the phrase speech impediment; on its own, impediment usually means an obstacle.
Meaning
difficulty speaking clearly
Collocations
a speech impediment
|a minor impediment
|a slight impediment
|overcome an impediment
|a childhood impediment
|a stuttered impediment
Synonyms
speech disorder (Broader medical/clinical label; can include many different conditions.)
|
stutter (Only one type of speech difficulty; not a general synonym.)
|
lisp (A specific pronunciation difficulty; not a general synonym.)
Antonyms
fluency (The ability to speak smoothly and easily.)
|
clear speech (Speaking in an easy-to-understand way.)
Themes
health
|communication
|education
Definition
A problem that makes speaking difficult.
A condition that makes it hard for someone to speak clearly or fluently, for example because of stuttering or a lisp.
Grammar
Dictionary form
impediment
IPA
GB/ɪmpˈɛdəmənt/
US/ɪmpˈɛdəmənt/
Syllables & stress
im - ped - i - ment (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ped)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: impediment
- Plural: impediments
Word family
Expressions
an impediment to [something]
1/ən ɪmpˈɛdəmənt tə sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
a factor that blocks something
Something that makes another thing difficult.
Examples
- Unclear ownership is an impediment to selling the property.
- A slow internet connection can be an impediment to working from home.
- Fear of failure is often an impediment to trying new things.
Learner examples
- Noise is an impediment to studying.
- Lack of time is an impediment to exercise.
no impediment to [something]
1/nˈoʊ ɪmpˈɛdəmənt tə sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
nothing prevents something
Nothing stops it from happening.
Examples
- There is no impediment to moving forward with the plan.
- The doctor said there was no impediment to her returning to work.
- Once the payment cleared, there was no impediment to shipping the order.
Learner examples
- There is no impediment to our meeting tomorrow.
remove an impediment
1/ɹimˈuv ən ɪmpˈɛdəmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
get rid of an obstacle
To take away a problem that blocks progress.
Examples
- The new funding removed a key impediment to the project.
- A simple signature is all that’s needed to remove the final impediment.
- They changed the process to remove impediments to customer support.
Learner examples
- We removed an impediment to the plan.
without impediment
1/wɪðˈaʊt ɪmpˈɛdəmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
in an unhindered way
Without any problems or obstacles.
Examples
- After the storm passed, flights resumed without impediment.
- Once the software update finished, the system ran without impediment.
- The agreement allows goods to cross the border without impediment.
Learner examples
- After I fixed it, I could work without impediment.