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encumbrance

English · Thesaurus

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encumbrance

  • /ɪnˈkʌm.bɹəns/
  • /ɛn-/
  • /-bɹən(t)s/

Where it comes from

From Middle English encombraunce, from Old French encombrance, from encombrer.

noun encumbrances · incumbrance

  1. countable, uncountable Something that encumbers; a burden that must be carried. Some consideration was necessary to decide whether or not to leave his rifle there. On the return, carrying the girl and a pack, it would be added encumbrance[…]
  2. alternative, countable, uncountable Alternative spelling of incumbrance (“in law: interest attached to a title; dependent”).
  3. countable, uncountable The state or condition of being encumbered.
  4. countable, uncountable Furniture or other large household item, especially when used or as waste.

Similar: encumberment · Opposite: unencumbrance

verb encumbrances · encumbrancing · encumbranced · incumbrance

  1. To apply an encumbrance to (property, etc.).

Thesaurus

noun

Similar: encumberment · Opposite: unencumbrance

Translations

Every language

noun burden

DeutschBelastung, dingliche Belastung

noun interest, right, burden or liability

Españolgravemen
DeutschVerschuldung, Schuldenlast, Grundstückslast

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Cite this
MLA

"encumbrance." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/encumbrance. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

encumbrance. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/encumbrance

Chicago

"encumbrance." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/encumbrance.

BibTeX
@misc{encumbrance_2026,
  title = {encumbrance},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/encumbrance},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}