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Glite Dictionary
diriment impediment

diriment impediment

9.9
A legal problem that makes a marriage not valid, for example a previous marriage or close blood relative
  • noun
  • /ˈdɪrɪmənt ɪmˈpɛdɪmənt/
  • Formal
translation icon : impedimento dirimente
  • In canon law, a diriment impediment such as bigamy makes the marriage invalid from the start.

Examples

  • The court declared the wedding null due to a diriment impediment discovered after the ceremony.

  • Certain close blood relationships are considered diriment impediments to marriage in many religions.

  • A diriment impediment can annul a marriage.

  • The diriment impediment surprised the couple.

  • In canon law, a diriment impediment such as bigamy makes the marriage invalid from the start.

  • Certain close blood relationships are considered diriment impediments to marriage in many religions.

  • The court declared the wedding null due to a diriment impediment discovered after the ceremony.

Surface Forms

diriment impediment singular
diriment impediments plural

Morphology

diriment + impediment

The noun 'impediment' (obstacle) is transparent, and the structure 'diriment impediment' is compositionally a modifier + obstacle, but the adjective 'diriment' is an uncommon, Latin-derived legal term meaning roughly 'annulling' or 'rendering void'. Because understanding the full canonical meaning requires specialized legal/Latin knowledge beyond B1 vocabulary, the relation is only partially predictable for typical learners.

Etymology

Diriment impediment comes from old Latin words: diriment meaning 'that breaks' and impediment meaning 'an obstacle'. The image to remember is a barrier that stops a marriage, so the phrase now means a legal obstacle that makes a wedding 'invalid'.