imposition

[im-puh-zish-uhn]

noun

1. the laying on of something as a burden or obligation.

2. something imposed, as a burden or duty; an unusual or extraordinarily burdensome requirement or task.

3. the act of imposing imposing by or as if by authority.

4. an instance of imposing imposing upon a person.

   He did the favor but considered the request an imposition.

5. the act of imposing imposing fraudulently or deceptively on others; imposture.

6. the ceremonial laying on of hands, as in confirmation or ordination.

7. Printing.,  the arrangement of page plates in proper order on a press for printing a signature.

8. the act of putting, placing, or laying on.

imposition

/ ˌɪmpəˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of imposing

2. something that is imposed unfairly on someone

3. (in Britain) a task set as a school punishment

4. the arrangement of pages for printing so that the finished work will have its pages in the correct order

Other Word Forms

• nonimposition noun
• preimposition noun
• reimposition noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of imposition¹

1325–75; Middle English imposicioun < Late Latin impositiōn- (stem of impositiō ), equivalent to imposit ( us ) past participle of impōnere to place upon, impose ( im- im- ¹ + posi-, variant stem of pōnere to put + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The company’s chief executive, in a court filing, cited “macroeconomic headwinds associated with the imposition of tariffs in countries around the world.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Founders of venture-backed U.S. startups are rethinking hiring plans following the imposition of the whopping new fee on H-1B visa petitions.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

It is expected to increase the number of uninsured people by 10 million, mostly through the imposition of new work requirements.

Read more on Barron's

But trying to mould someone's appearance according to your preferences is dangerous, she argues, as the person on the receiving end could see it as an unwelcome imposition.

Read more on BBC

He did not address any Western nations specifically in his five-minute speech, but Chinese officials have previously called the US a "bully" for its imposition of tariffs on countries around the world.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• intrusion