impedimento

Impedimento is a noun used in Portuguese to denote an obstacle, hindrance, or impediment that prevents someone from carrying out an action or fulfilling a duty. The term derives from Latin impedimentum, meaning something that impedes or slows progress.

In everyday language, impedimento can refer to any factor that blocks or complicates a task. This can include physical obstacles, lack of resources, or personal conditions that make an action impractical or impossible. The word is commonly used to describe temporary or situational constraints rather than permanent failures.

In legal and administrative contexts, impedimento often denotes a formal disqualification or restriction that prevents a person from participating in a procedure, decision, or office. Examples include conflicts of interest, incapacity, or other grounds that require abstention or replacement to ensure fairness and legality. Impedimentos may be challenged, challenged, declared, or lifted by proper authorities according to applicable rules and procedures.

In canon and matrimonial law, impediments refer to conditions that prevent the validity of a marriage. Canonical impediments are specific relationships or circumstances recognized by church law, and dispensations can sometimes remove these impediments if permitted by authority.

Overall, impedimento describes any factor that obstructs action or eligibility, ranging from practical obstacles to formal legal restrictions. Its usage spans everyday speech and specialized legal, administrative, and religious contexts, always signaling a barrier that must be addressed or acknowledged.