imposition
n. C / Un. an unfair or annoying request that takes up someone's time or effort. You use this when someone asks you for a favor that feels like a burden.
n. the act of forcing an unwelcome burden or requirement on someone. Often refers to an unfair demand on one's time or resources.
I hope my staying here isn't a big imposition.
She felt that asking her neighbor to drive her to the airport at 4 a.m. was too much of an imposition.
The new administrative requirements were seen as a significant imposition by the staff, who were already struggling to meet their primary research deadlines.
From Middle English imposicioun, from Old French imposicion, from Latin impositio.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Commonly used with the verb 'to be' and often followed by the preposition 'on' or 'upon'.
Last updated May 7, 2026