annoyance
n. C / U B1 Intermediate US //əˈnɔɪəns// UK //ɐnˈɔɪəns// an·noy·ance
n. something that makes you feel slightly angry or impatient. It is often a small, repeated problem rather than a big disaster.
n. a source of irritation or trouble; a minor inconvenience that provokes mild anger or impatience.
The loud noise was a constant annoyance.
The broken elevator became a daily annoyance for the office workers.
While the policy aimed to reduce traffic, the resulting construction noise proved a significant annoyance to local residents.
Inherited from Middle English anoyaunce (rare form of noyaunce), from Old French anuiance, anoiance, from the verb anuier (“to cause problems”), equivalent to annoy + -ance. Compare French ennui.