Here's a breakdown of its meanings and how it's used:
1. Financial Obligations:
* Property: A property is encumbered if it has a mortgage, lien, or other financial claim against it. This means the owner doesn't fully own the property until the debt is paid.
* Assets: An asset can be encumbered by a loan or other financial obligation, meaning the owner can't fully use or dispose of it until the obligation is met.
2. Legal or Other Restrictions:
* Rights: Your rights can be encumbered by legal limitations or regulations, such as zoning laws that restrict what you can build on your land.
* Freedom: A person's freedom can be encumbered by legal restrictions like probation or house arrest.
Examples:
* "The house is encumbered by a $200,000 mortgage."
* "His business is encumbered by heavy debt."
* "Her travel plans were encumbered by visa issues."
* "The new law encumbered the freedom of speech."
In essence, "encumbered" means something is limited or restricted in its use or value due to some external factor, often a financial or legal obligation.