Impeding

Impeding is the act of hindering, obstructing, or delaying something or someone. It is the present participle of the verb impede, and can describe actions that slow progress, block an outcome, or interfere with a process. The term is widely used across everyday language, law, infrastructure, and policy contexts.

Etymology: Impede comes from Latin impedire “to hinder, obstruct,” from impedimentum “a hindrance.” The form impeding shares the same root and is used as a noun or adjective in phrases like “impeding factors” or “impeding actions.”

Usage: In everyday language, impeding can refer to actions that block or delay activities, such as impeding traffic or impeding a project. In legal contexts, many jurisdictions treat deliberately hindering official duties as an offense; phrases such as “impeding an officer” or “impeding a government function” are used to describe acts that obstruct law enforcement or administration. In organizational or safety settings, risk assessments may identify impeding factors that raise the likelihood of delays or failures. The term is often contrasted with terms like obstructing, hindering, or resisting, depending on jurisdiction and context.

See also: obstruction, hindrance, obstruction of justice (a related concept in many legal systems).