imposition

American  

[im-puh-zish-uhn] / ˌɪm pəˈzɪʃ ən /

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.

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imposition British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• nonimposition noun
• preimposition noun
• reimposition noun

Etymology

Origin of imposition

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

While authorities insist the situation is under control, the imposition of a curfew underscores the seriousness of the threat and the urgency of preventing further escalation.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

I caught Levin the day after he turned in a chapter about authoritarianism for a new book, which happens to look at how discrimination and the imposition of social hierarchies ties in with power.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

First, it details the imposition of China export restrictions on silver that start Jan 1.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 30, 2025

Yoon was ousted in April and is now in prison following a brief but disastrous imposition of martial law.

From Barron's • Dec. 26, 2025

Still, feeling deeply that his filth was an unforgivable imposition, he’d chosen to bathe first, and thus had he discovered, at the age of twenty, the incomparable pleasure of submergence in hot water.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

Related Words

• intrusion