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Noun: impediment  im'pe-du-munt
  1. Something that interferes with (or delays) action or progress
    "The high cost of tuition acted as an impediment to many potential students";
    - hindrance, hinderance [rare], deterrent, balk, baulk [Brit], check, handicap
     
  2. Any structure that makes progress difficult
    "The complex legal process proved to be a major impediment to justice";
    - obstruction, obstructor, obstructer, impedimenta

Derived forms: impediments

Type of: construction, difficultness, difficulty, structure

Encyclopedia: Impediment