imposition
gb/ˌɪmpəzˈɪʃən/ us/ˌɪmpəzˈɪʃən/
C1
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
Nom
C1
abstract
1
an unwelcome burden or demand
Something that bothers someone because it asks too much of them.
Schéma d’usage :
an imposition (on [someone])
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may confuse this with the verb impose; in this sense, imposition is the burden itself.
Synonymes
burden (General word for something hard to carry or deal with.)
|
inconvenience (Often milder; focuses on disruption more than unfairness.)
|
intrusion (Emphasizes unwanted interference, especially socially.)
Antonymes
help (Something that makes things easier rather than harder.)
|
favor (A kind act done willingly, not a burden.)
|
relief (A reduction of pressure or difficulty.)
Collocations
a real imposition
|an unnecessary imposition
|a huge imposition
|a serious imposition
|an imposition on someone
|feel like an imposition
|see it as an imposition
|consider it an imposition
|resent the imposition
|avoid being an imposition
Thèmes
daily_life
|social
|work
|emotions
Exemples
- I hate to ask, but could you give me a ride, or would that be an imposition?
- The extra paperwork feels like an imposition on already busy staff.
- Staying with them for two weeks would be too much of an imposition.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Sorry to bother you—I don’t want to be an imposition.
- Could I ask a small favor, or is it an imposition?
Nom
formal
C1
process
2
the act of imposing rules or taxes
The act of making people follow a new rule or pay a new tax.
Schéma d’usage :
the imposition of [a tax/rule/ban/sanctions] (on [someone/something])
Erreur fréquente :
Common error: using it without “of” (e.g., “the imposition new rules” instead of “the imposition of new rules”).
Synonymes
introduction (Neutral; does not necessarily imply force or unfairness.)
|
enforcement (Focuses on making rules obeyed, not creating them.)
|
levying (Used especially for taxes and fees.)
Antonymes
removal (Taking away a rule, tax, or restriction.)
|
repeal (Official cancellation of a law or rule.)
|
lifting (Ending a restriction or ban.)
Collocations
the imposition of sanctions
|the imposition of a tax
|the imposition of tariffs
|the imposition of a ban
|the imposition of restrictions
|the imposition of fines
|the imposition of fees
|the imposition of controls
|the imposition of rules
|the imposition on businesses
Thèmes
government
|law
|business
|politics
Exemples
- The imposition of new tariffs raised prices for consumers.
- Human rights groups criticized the imposition of a nationwide curfew.
- The imposition of late fees was intended to discourage missed payments.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The imposition of the new rule made everyone angry.
- They discussed the imposition of a tax on plastic bags.
Nom
formal
C2
rule
3
a rule or tax that is imposed
A tax or rule that someone makes you accept.
Schéma d’usage :
[an] imposition(s) on [someone/something]
Erreur fréquente :
This sense is more formal and less common; learners may prefer “tax,” “fee,” “rule,” or “requirement” in everyday speech.
Synonymes
tax (Most common everyday word; specifically about money paid to government.)
|
requirement (Broader; includes non-financial obligations.)
|
restriction (Specifically limits what people can do.)
Antonymes
exemption (Freedom from a tax, rule, or requirement.)
|
freedom (Lack of imposed limits or obligations.)
|
choice (Doing something voluntarily rather than under obligation.)
Collocations
new impositions
|fiscal impositions
|regulatory impositions
|unfair impositions
|government impositions
|legal impositions
|impositions on business
|impositions on citizens
|administrative impositions
|costly impositions
Thèmes
government
|law
|business
Exemples
- Small businesses complained about the latest impositions on hiring.
- The policy adds new impositions without clear benefits.
- Voters were promised fewer impositions and lower costs.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The new fee is an imposition on students.
- They want to reduce impositions on small shops.
Nom
formal
C2
event
4
a trick or dishonest deception
A trick that fools someone.
Schéma d’usage :
an imposition (on [someone])
Erreur fréquente :
This meaning is relatively rare in modern everyday English; learners may instead use “trick,” “scam,” or “hoax.”
Synonymes
hoax (Often a public trick meant to be believed.)
|
scam (Usually done to get money or advantage.)
|
fraud (More legal/formal; often involves documents or financial deception.)
Antonymes
truth (What is real or accurate, not deceptive.)
|
honesty (The quality of being truthful and not misleading.)
|
revelation (Making the real facts known rather than hiding them.)
Collocations
a cruel imposition
|a deliberate imposition
|a complete imposition
|an imposition on the public
|practice impositions
|play an imposition
|expose the imposition
|see through the imposition
Thèmes
social
|crime
|media
Exemples
- The “miracle cure” turned out to be an imposition on desperate patients.
- He admitted the story was an imposition meant to impress his friends.
- The newspaper apologized for repeating the imposition without checking the facts.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The email was an imposition to steal money.
- It was just an imposition, not a real offer.
Nom
technical
C2
process
5
page layout for printing sheets
In printing, placing pages on a sheet in the right order.
Schéma d’usage :
imposition for [a booklet/catalog/book]
Erreur fréquente :
This technical sense is different from the common “burden” sense; it is mainly used in printing and graphic design.
Synonymes
pagination (Related, but usually means numbering/ordering pages, not arranging them on a printing sheet.)
|
layout (Broader term; not specific to print-sheet arrangement.)
|
prepress planning (Wider process that includes imposition.)
Antonymes
disorder (Pages not arranged correctly.)
|
misalignment (Incorrect placement; not a direct opposite but contrasts with correct setup.)
|
randomization (Lack of planned order.)
Collocations
page imposition
|printer's imposition
|sheet imposition
|imposition layout
|imposition settings
|imposition software
|imposition scheme
|imposition template
|perfect-bound imposition
|booklet imposition
Thèmes
technology
|media
|design
Exemples
- The designer checked the imposition to make sure the booklet would fold correctly.
- A simple error in imposition can swap the order of pages in the final print.
- The print shop adjusted the imposition to fit more pages per sheet.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
imposition
API
GB/ˌɪmpəzˈɪʃən/
US/ˌɪmpəzˈɪʃən/
Syllabes et accentuation
im - pos - i - tion (4 syllabes)
Stress on 3rd syllable (i)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: imposition
- Plural: imposition, impositions
Famille de mots
Forms
impositions
noun
Core family
impose
verb B1
imposing
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unimposing
adjective
Advanced or less common
imposingly
adverb
Expressions
feel like an imposition
1/fˈil lˈaɪk ən ˌɪmpəzˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
feel you are bothering someone
To feel bad because you think you are causing trouble for someone.
Exemples
- I didn’t want to call again—I was starting to feel like an imposition.
- She stayed in a hotel because she didn’t want to feel like an imposition on her relatives.
- When you’re recovering, it’s easy to feel like an imposition even when people are glad to help.
it’s no imposition.
1/ˈɪts nˈoʊ ˌɪmpəzˈɪʃən ‖/
fixed phrase
it’s no trouble for me
You say this to mean “I don’t mind doing it.”
Exemples
- “Thanks for picking me up.” “It’s no imposition—happy to help.”
- If you need a place to stay, it’s no imposition.
- Please ask if you’re stuck; it’s no imposition at all.