Noun: diriment impediment
- (canon law) an impediment that invalidates a marriage (such as the existence of a prior marriage)
"The priest discovered a diriment impediment that prevented the couple from marrying in the church"
Derived forms: diriment impediments
Type of: balk, baulk [Brit], check, deterrent, handicap, hinderance [rare], hindrance, impediment
Encyclopedia: Diriment impediment