encumbrance

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ɪnˈkʌmbrəns/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ɛnˈkʌmbrəns/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(en kum′brəns)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
en•cum•brance /ɛnˈkʌmbrəns/USA pronunciation  n. [countable]
  1. something that weighs down or burdens.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
en•cum•brance  (en kum′brəns),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. something that encumbers;
    something burdensome, useless, or superfluous;
    burden;
    hindrance:Poverty was a lifelong encumbrance.
  2. a dependent person, esp. a child.
  3. Lawa burden or claim on property, as a mortgage.
Also, incumbrance. 
  • Middle French encumbrance. See encumber, -ance
  • Middle English encombraunce 1275–1325

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
encumbrance, incumbrance / ɪnˈkʌmbrəns/
  1. a thing that impedes or is burdensome; hindrance
  2. a burden or charge upon property, such as a mortgage or lien
'encumbrance' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
burden - charge - clog - cumbrance - dead weight - deadwood - disencumber - encumbrancer - free - hindrance - impediment - incumbrance - light - load - shackle

Forum discussions with the word(s) "encumbrance" in the title:


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