encumbrance
Americannoun
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something that encumbers; something burdensome, useless, or superfluous; burden; hindrance.
Poverty was a lifelong encumbrance.
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a dependent person, especially a child.
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Law. a burden or claim on property, as a mortgage.
noun
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a thing that impedes or is burdensome; hindrance
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law a burden or charge upon property, such as a mortgage or lien
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rare a dependent person, esp a child
Etymology
Origin of encumbrance
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English encombraunce, from Middle French encumbrance; see origin at encumber, -ance
Explanation
A burden or serious concern is an encumbrance. Your being five feet tall could be an encumbrance when it comes to your dream of playing professional basketball. Something that blocks you from doing what you want to do is an encumbrance, like the rocky soil in your garden that makes it impossible for you to grow tomatoes. A burden or hindrance can also be an encumbrance, the way wearing thick knitted mittens makes it harder for you to dial your cell phone — your mittens are an encumbrance. The word comes from the Latin word incombrare, which means "barricade or obstacle."
Vocabulary lists containing encumbrance
A Separate Peace
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The Awakening
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Seabiscuit
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I embraced as much as I could, that which the Greeks call Freedom from the Encumbrance of Business.
From Colloquies of Erasmus, Volume I. by Erasmus, Desiderius
She was now entered into a Second Captivity; but she had the great Encumbrance of being Big with Child, and within Six Weeks of her Time!
From Woman's Life in Colonial Days by Holliday, Carl
"I am sure," said the Colonel, "that we all wish the—ah—greatest of luck to our host's sons—ah, that is, to his son and to—ah—his—ah——" "Encumbrance," said Wally firmly.
From Captain Jim by Bruce, Mary Grant
Unconsciously looking upon Goldsmith as a meer Encumbrance when compar'd to the greater Man, the Foreigner bluntly interrupted him and incurr'd his lasting Hostility by crying, "Hush, Toctor Shonson iss going to speak!"
From Writings in the United Amateur, 1915-1922 by Lovecraft, H. P. (Howard Phillips)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
