ɪmˈpɛdɪmənt ɪmˌpɛdɪˈmɛntə ˈɒbstəkl̩ ˈɑbstəkl̩ əbˈstɹʌk.ʃən getting in someone's way the act of obstructing obstruction of justice any structure that makes progress difficult something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted lack of imagination is an obstacle to one's advancement the poverty of a district is an obstacle to good education the filibuster was a major obstruction to the success of their plan the physical condition of blocking or filling a passage with an obstruction