impingement

American  

[im-pinj-muhnt] / ɪmˈpɪndʒ mənt /

noun

• impingements
  plural

1. the act or fact of encroaching or infringing.

   This is an impingement on the fundamental right of free speech.

2. the act or fact of striking or touching something, or the effect produced by this.

   The impingement on the diamond’s hard crystal surface is due to oxygen in the air.

3. Medicine/Medical. the act or fact of interfering with something, especially a nerve, through contact or pressure.

   Impingement on the nerves can be relieved by removing the portion of the bone compressing the neural structures.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• impingements
  plural

Etymology

Origin of impingement

impinge ( def. ) + -ment ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

impingement impingements

Sasaki’s transition to MLB, however, was interrupted by what the Dodgers called a right shoulder impingement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026

“It’s for people with shoulder impingement or spinal compression issues. It takes all the compression off your spine and allows you to perform a squat under resistance.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2025

It had been four months since his debut season took a dismal turn, landing on the injured list with a shoulder impingement following an opening month marred by poor performance and diminished stuff.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2025

By the time Sasaki finally went on the injured list with a shoulder impingement in early May, he had a 4.72 ERA and some of the worst underlying metrics in the majors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2025

In particular, we have a certain definite point on the earth’s surface on which the edge of the shadow first impinges; this impingement necessarily takes place at sunrise.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 10 "Echinoderma" to "Edward" by Various

Instead of loneliness and grief or outcries over impingements on their freedom, they’ve gotten used to a routine of short-term pain for collective gain.

From New York Times ● Feb. 1, 2021

Phelps was acquired from Miami last July and then did two stints on the disabled list for right elbow impingements.

From Washington Times ● Mar. 22, 2018

The boating industry, and boaters themselves, often push back against what they see as impingements on their boating experiences.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 18, 2017

"There may be more subcorocoid vs. subacromional type shoulder impingements due to the internally rotated and forward flexed position of the shoulder and arm that occurs with each repeated swim stroke" Dr. Rodeo says.

From US News ● May 11, 2016

Only the most jaded appetite could linger without sharp impingements before these condensations and transformations of the kindly fruits of the earth.

From A Hoosier Chronicle by F. C. (Frederick Coffay) Yohn