hindrance
Americannoun
-
an impeding, stopping, preventing, or the like.
-
the state of being hindered.
-
a person or thing that hinders.
- Synonyms:
- restraint, check, obstruction, encumbrance, impediment
- Antonyms:
- aid
noun
-
an obstruction or snag; impediment
-
the act of hindering; prevention
Usage
What does hindrance mean? A hindrance is something that hinders—makes it harder for something to happen or be done or for someone to do something. Hindrance is most commonly used in the context of progress, tasks, work, or other things that involve the completion of a goal. Hindrances delay, interrupt, or slow down progress. The words obstacle and impediment are very similar. Hindrances are usually things, such as events or circumstances, but a person can be considered a hindrance, such as when they hinder someone else’s progress or work by interrupting them, getting in their way, or putting obstacles in their way. Although the verb hinder can also mean to completely prevent or stop something from happening, hindrances are usually temporary obstacles. Hindrance can also refer to the act of hindering or the state of being hindered. Example: Don’t let one failure be a hindrance to your goals.
Synonym Usage
See obstacle.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of hindrance
First recorded in 1400–50, hindrance is from the late Middle English word hinderaunce. See hinder 1, -ance
Explanation
A hindrance is something in the way, an obstacle. An untied shoelace is a hindrance to walking, and tripping in the lunchroom might be a hindrance to getting a seat at the cool table. You might hear the phrase, "more of a hindrance than a help." It means that something intended to be a positive force has the opposite effect, like when your four-year-old sister tries to help you make dinner. Hindrance refers to the act of slowing things down, or the thing that's causing the problem, like your "helpful" little sister. It's the noun form of the verb hinder, which is "to get in the way."
Vocabulary lists containing hindrance
"Harrison Bergeron"
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Declaration of the Rights of Woman (1791)
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "H"
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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.
But his color palette is so grimy that it becomes a hindrance.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
“This is an unsustainable burden for ICE employees and a hindrance to ICE operations given the exceptional growth in congressional visits,” he wrote.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
These sky-high valuations clearly haven’t been a hindrance for chip investors yet, though.
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
Two-time finalist Medvedev then asked umpire Aurelie Tourte for a video review to see whether Draper had been guilty of hindrance - making either an action or a noise to disturb an opponent.
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026
Then with little further hindrance, save from sprawling briars and many fallen stones, they moved forward all together.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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.
