hindrance
n.something or someone that makes it harder for you to do something. It is a person or thing that gets in your way or slows you down.
n.a person or thing that provides resistance, delay, or obstruction to something or someone. Often used in the phrase 'more of a hindrance than a help'.
“The heavy rain was a hindrance to our travel plans.”
“The outdated software proved to be a major hindrance to the team's productivity during the busy season.”
“While the new regulations were intended to ensure safety, many small business owners argued they acted as a hindrance to innovation and economic growth.”
Often followed by the preposition 'to'. When used as an uncountable noun, it refers to the abstract state of being impeded.
From Middle English hinderance, hinderaunce, hindraunce, hynderaunce, hynderawnce, hynderawns, hyndrance; equivalent to hinder + -ance.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.