empêchement

obstacle

noun ahm-pesh-MAHN Rare

Also means

impediment

Usage Note

Empêchement refers to something that prevents a planned action, especially when a person cannot attend something (j'ai un empêchement — 'something has come up / I can't make it'). This polite formula is very common in social and professional French. The related verb is empêcher ('to prevent, to stop').

Examples

"Il n'a pas pu venir à cause d'un empêchement de dernière minute."

Natural Translation

He could not come because of a last-minute obstacle.

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