encumber

verb

en·​cum·​ber in-ˈkəm-bər 

encumbered; encumbering in-ˈkəm-b(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: weigh down, burden

tourists encumbered by heavy luggage

2

: to impede or hamper the function or activity of : hinder

negotiations encumbered by a lack of trust

3

: to burden with a legal claim (such as a mortgage)

encumber an estate

Did you know?

Encumber Has French Roots

In Old French, the noun combre meant a defensive obstacle formed by felled trees with sharpened branches facing the enemy. Later, in Middle French, combre referred to a barrier, similar to a dam or weir, constructed in the bed of a river to hold back fish or protect the banks. That notion of holding back is what informs our verb encumber. One can be physically encumbered (as by a heavy load or severe weather) or figuratively (as by bureaucratic restrictions). Combre also gives us the adjectives cumbersome and cumbrous, both meaning "awkward or difficult to handle."

Synonyms

• clog
• cramp
• embarrass
• fetter
• hamper
• handcuff
• handicap
• hinder
• hobble
• hog-tie
• hold back
• hold up
• impede
• inhibit
• interfere (with)
• manacle
• obstruct
• shackle
• short-circuit
• stymie
• tie up
• trammel

Examples of encumber in a Sentence

These rules will only encumber the people we're trying to help.

Lack of funding has encumbered the project.

Recent Examples on the Web

The local road signs were missing, to encumber the invaders. —Susan Mathison, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2024

These concerns, and an overall lack of disclosure regarding the company’s supply chain, have been one of the factors encumbering Shein’s increasingly winding road to an IPO. —Noor Lobad, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019

This is remarkable given that they’re so heavily encumbered by government regulations. —Veronique De Rugy, Orange County Register, 23 May 2024

The talks lapsed because Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, was interested in pursuing a separate deal to sell the company and didn’t want to encumber an important asset. —Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English encombren, from Anglo-French encumbrer, from en- + Middle French combre dam, weir

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

encumber

verb

en·​cum·​ber in-ˈkəm-bər 

encumbered; encumbering -b(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to place an excessive burden on

2

: to make problems for the work or activity of

Legal Definition

encumber

transitive verb

en·​cum·​ber

variants also incumber

in-ˈkəm-bər

encumbered; encumbering

: to burden with a claim (as a mortgage or lien)

encumbered the land with a mineral lease