obstruction

American  

[uhb-struhk-shuhn] / əbˈstrʌk ʃən /

noun

1. something that obstructs, blocks, or closes up with an obstacle or obstacles; obstacle or hindrance.

   obstructions to navigation.

   Synonyms:

   impediment, bar, barrier

   Antonyms:

   encouragement

2. an act or instance of obstructing.

3. the state of being obstructed.

   Synonyms:

   stoppage

   Antonyms:

   encouragement

4. the delaying or preventing of business before a deliberative body, especially a legislative group, by parliamentary contrivances.

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obstruction British  

/ əbˈstrʌkʃən /

noun

1. a person or thing that obstructs

2. the act or an instance of obstructing

3. delay of business, esp in a legislature by means of procedural devices

4. sport the act of unfairly impeding an opposing player

5. the state or condition of being obstructed

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Related Words

See obstacle.

Other Word Forms

• obstructional adjective
• obstructionally adverb
• preobstruction noun

Etymology

Origin of obstruction

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin obstructiōn- (stem of obstructiō ) “barrier.” See obstruct, -ion

Example Sentences

Yvette Cooper called obstructions "from both warring parties... shameful and unacceptable".

From BBC

Earlier this year, Yoon was found guilty of obstruction of justice and a litany of other crimes related to the martial law declaration and its chaotic aftermath.

From Barron's

He passed under 14 motorway gantries, but not one carried a red warning 'X' signal of an obstruction ahead.

From BBC

He explained how a person could be constantly tripping over debris and obstructions and at times having to go "on all fours" to try to get through the tunnel.

From BBC

Menary said none of the obstructions the specialist team found in the tunnel would have prevented someone from getting through that part of the tunnel.

From BBC

Related Words

• blockage
• hindrance
• interference