encumbrance
C2Formal
Definition
Meaning
A burden or something that hinders action or movement.
1. In law, a claim, lien, or liability attached to property (e.g., a mortgage). 2. A person who is dependent on and impedes another; a hindrance to progress or freedom.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily abstract, denoting anything that imposes a burden, responsibility, or restriction. In legal contexts, it is a concrete, technical term.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Slightly more common in UK legal/financial documents, but equally understood in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both regions; higher in formal, legal, and financial contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be/act as/become] an encumbrance [on/to/for N][impose/place/constitute] an encumbrance [on N]free/clear/unencumbered [from/of an] encumbranceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dead encumbrance”
- “She viewed her large family as an encumbrance to her career.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to debts, liens, or obligations that reduce an asset's value. E.g., 'The property was sold with no financial encumbrances.'
Academic
Used to discuss abstract hindrances to progress or theory. E.g., 'The ideological encumbrances of the past constrained their research.'
Everyday
Rare. Used figuratively for a burdensome person or thing. E.g., 'All this luggage is a real encumbrance.'
Technical
A precise legal or financial term for a claim against property (mortgage, easement, covenant).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The estate is encumbered with several legal claims.
- She felt encumbered by family expectations.
American English
- The title was encumbered by an old lien.
- He was encumbered by too much gear.
adverb
British English
- N/A (extremely rare, 'encumberingly')
- N/A
American English
- N/A
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The encumbered vehicle was difficult to manoeuvre.
- An encumbered estate cannot be sold easily.
American English
- The encumbered property had multiple claims against it.
- They felt financially encumbered.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He carried his backpack, which felt like a heavy encumbrance on the long hike.
- The old regulations were seen as an encumbrance to new business.
- The company was acquired free of any financial encumbrances.
- She refused to see her children as an encumbrance to her personal ambitions.
- Clearing the legal encumbrances from the land title took months.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CUMBER in encumbrance, which relates to CUMBERsome – both meaning 'burdensome'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A WEIGHT TO BE CARRIED (e.g., 'weighed down by encumbrances'), AN OBSTRUCTION ON A PATH.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'обременение' for all contexts. In legal English, 'encumbrance' is often 'обременение' (права), but as a general burden, 'помеха', 'препятствие', 'тяжесть' or 'бремя' might be better.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'incumbrance' (archaic variant). Using it in overly casual contexts where 'nuisance' or 'bother' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'encumbrance' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost exclusively negative, denoting something undesirable that burdens or hinders.
'Encumbrance' is more formal and often implies a specific, formal hindrance (especially legal). 'Burden' is more general and can be emotional, physical, or financial.
Yes, though it can be dehumanising. It means a person who is dependent on and a hindrance to another (e.g., 'He saw his sick brother as an encumbrance').
To 'encumber'. Adjective: 'encumbered'. The state of being free from encumbrances is being 'unencumbered'.
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