impediment

Everyday

1. An impediment is something that gets in the way or makes progress hard. tree →
2. A speech impediment is a difficulty in speaking, like a stammer or a lisp. tree →
3. (church, law) An impediment to marriage is a legal reason two people cannot marry. tree →

In the lessons

Formal writing (an impediment to learning), health (speech impediment, said kindly), church weddings («if anyone knows of any impediment…»).

Examples

• Lack of money was an impediment to the plan. tree →
• He has a slight speech impediment. tree →
• Speech therapy helped her impediment. tree →
• The priest asked if anyone knew of an impediment to the marriage. tree →
• Fallen trees were an impediment to the rescue. tree →
• Shyness need not be an impediment. tree →

Note

Formal. Verb: impede (to slow down or block). Be kind: a speech impediment is not a sign of low intelligence.