From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishimpedimentim‧ped‧i‧ment /ɪmˈpedəmənt/ noun [countable] 1 MIa physical problem that makes speaking, hearing, or moving difficult a speech impediment2 PREVENTa situation or event that makes it difficult or impossible for someone or something to succeed or make progressimpediment to War is one of the greatest impediments to human progress.
Examples from the Corpus
impediment• He has dropped homosexuality as an impediment to security clearances.• On education, Mr Gore's thralldom to the teachers' unions strikes us as an impediment to innovative thinking.• But Nails did not consider his lack an impediment to his plans.• It's not a disease, it's an impediment.• Another impediment arose during a second round of testing.• Shortage of money was not the only impediment to higher education.• a speech impediment• A speech impediment did nothing to stop him from preaching.speech impediment• He had a nervous twitch and a speech impediment.• He also had a speech impediment.• Communicating: problems experienced by handicapped people or those suffering from lack of confidence or a speech impediment. 9.• A speech impediment did nothing to stop him from preaching.• I kept silent, thinking that he might have an embarrassing speech impediment.• Jerry's worked hard to overcome his speech impediment.impediment to• The country's debt has been an impediment to development.Origin impediment (1300-1400) Latin impedimentum, from impedire; → IMPEDE 