Encumbrance
A burden or impediment that weighs down progress; in law, a claim or restriction on a property that affects its transfer.
nounEncumbrance
A burden or impediment that weighs down progress; in law, a claim or restriction on a property that affects its transfer.
nounImagine This
Picture yourself climbing a staircase with a heavy backpack full of rocks. Each step is slower because the encumbrance on your back weighs you down. In a legal scenario, imagine a house with a stubborn chain attached to its title—an encumbrance that prevents a clean sale until debts are resolved.
Sounds Like
en-KUHM-bruhns
Looks Like
burden, hindrance; resembles encumber (verb)
Remember This
Encumbrance comes from a word meaning to burden or weigh down; it can refer to a general obstacle as well as a formal legal claim on property.
Other Forms
Connect With
burden, hindrance, obstacle, liability, lien, property restriction
Note
Be careful not to confuse encumbrance with a simple obstacle or nuisance. In law, an encumbrance is a binding claim (like a lien or mortgage) that limits how property can be used or transferred.
Study Deeper
- The debt was an encumbrance on her finances, making it difficult to save.
- A lien on the property created an encumbrance that prevented sale until the loan was repaid.
From Old French encombrance 'burden, hindrance,' from en- 'in' + combre / combrer meaning 'to burden' (related to encumber).
EN-CUM-BRANCE: Remember that encumbrance comes from encumber, meaning to burden. The 'cum' suggests 'with' (with burden), reinforcing that an encumbrance is a weight or constraint that comes with something.
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