IMPOSITION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does imposition mean? 

• IMPOSITION (noun)
  The noun IMPOSITION has 2 senses:

1. the act of imposing something (as a tax or an embargo)

2. an uncalled-for burden

  Familiarity information: IMPOSITION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IMPOSITION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of imposing something (as a tax or an embargo)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

imposition; infliction

Hypernyms ("imposition" is a kind of...):

enforcement (the act of enforcing; ensuring observance of or obedience to)

Domain category:

revenue enhancement; tax; taxation (charge against a citizen's person or property or activity for the support of government)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "imposition"):

protection; trade protection (the imposition of duties or quotas on imports in order to protect domestic industry against foreign competition)

regimentation (the imposition of order or discipline)

reimposition (imposition again)

taxation (the imposition of taxes; the practice of the government in levying taxes on the subjects of a state)

Derivation:

impose (impose something unpleasant)

impose (impose and collect)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An uncalled-for burden

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

he listened but resented the imposition

Hypernyms ("imposition" is a kind of...):

burden; encumbrance; incumbrance; load; onus (an onerous or difficult concern)

Derivation:

impose (impose something unpleasant)

 Context examples 

I heard that the table beer was a robbery of parents, and the pudding an imposition.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Not a hope of imposition or mistake was harboured anywhere.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

His satisfaction in which happy imposition on us, and in having preserved the impenetrable secret of the box, appeared to be a sufficient compensation to him for all his tortures.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

At about the week's end from his return to Mansfield, Tom's immediate danger was over, and he was so far pronounced safe as to make his mother perfectly easy; for being now used to the sight of him in his suffering, helpless state, and hearing only the best, and never thinking beyond what she heard, with no disposition for alarm and no aptitude at a hint, Lady Bertram was the happiest subject in the world for a little medical imposition.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)