impair

verb

im·pair | \ im-ˈper

impaired; impairing; impairs

Definition of impair

: to diminish in function, ability, or quality : to weaken or make worse It has been known for nearly 100 years that memory is impaired by bilateral damage to either of two brain regions …— Larry R. Squire The use of drugs further complicates the situation of these families and sometimes impairs their ability to raise children.— Ellen L. Bassuk … the prospect of generating normal profitability is impaired by excessive debt service.— John Nozell The physician also checks for signs of endometriosis, a condition in which the cells that normally compose the uterine lining grow outside the uterus, sometimes impairing fertility.— Martha Southgate

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Choose the Right Synonym for impair

injure, harm, hurt, damage, impair, mar mean to affect injuriously. injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success. badly injured in an accident harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss. careful not to harm the animals hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings. hurt by their callous remarks damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness. a table damaged in shipping impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution. years of smoking had impaired his health mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement. the text is marred by many typos

Examples of impair in a Sentence

Smoking can impair your health. Drinking impairs a person's ability to think clearly. His memory was so impaired by age that he often forgot where he was.

Recent Examples on the Web

He was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and DUI after it was determined he was impaired and under the influence of alcohol. — Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al.com, "28-year-old charged with murder in early-morning DUI crash that killed Auburn motorcyclist," 4 June 2019 Although rain clouds threatened to impair today's effort, the good weather held, allowing the same divers from yesterday's successful rescue to re-enter the winding Tham Luang cave complex. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Four More Thai Boys Rescued From Cave, Bringing Number Up to 8," 9 July 2018 These types of programs allow equal access to opportunities and careers for people who are visually impaired. — Caren Chesler, Popular Mechanics, "A Vision Quest," 6 Mar. 2019 For example, a seeing-eye dog must pass a four-month course with a sight instructor before being paired with someone who is visually impaired. — Aditi Shrikant, Vox, "Delta is now restricting emotional support animals on flights. This could be a good thing.," 11 Dec. 2018 Every new Jurassic film brings a raft of new questions: Was Tyrannosaurus rex really that visually impaired? — Angela Watercutter, WIRED, "Why Are the Velociraptors in Jurassic World So Big?," 19 June 2018 The classroom was full of students, all of them blind or visually impaired. — Lizzie Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, "In the fire-scarred Wine Country, new help for the blind in disasters," 3 June 2018 With the proper training, people who are blind or visually impaired could pursue a career in coding, Wunderlich said. — Ally Marotti, chicagotribune.com, "Apple partners with local nonprofit to bring its coding curriculum to more blind and visually impaired people," 17 May 2018 The organization, which has been serving the Chicagoland area for more than 112 years, supports people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired through programs ranging from medical clinics to employment readiness training. — Gwendolyn Purdom, RedEye Chicago, "Do good supporting people who are blind or visually impaired with The Chicago Lighthouse," 21 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impair.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

8 Jun 2019

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The first known use of impair was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for impair

impairment

noun

Financial Definition of impairment

What It Is

The term impairment refers to assets that are no longer of the same value as in a prior period. An impairment charge is used and the asset is revalued downward and a "charge" is made to net assets.

How It Works

Impairment normally happens when the value of a company's goodwill declines in market value. Since the advent of FAS (Financial Accounting Standards) 141 and 142, the amortization of goodwill is no longer required, however periodic and annual impairment tests are now necessary. This can work both ways. The goodwill (asset) will stay on the books of the company indefinitely which helps EPS but if there is a market downturn on these assets, a write-down of the value of the asset (impairment charge) will be required which has immediate impact on the income of the company.

For example;

Goodwill Asset Value (Year 0) $4,000,000

Impairment Test Results Value (Year 1) $3,000,000

Income Statement Impact/ Impairment Charge $1,000,000

Why It Matters

Under US GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), tests of impairment are required annually. Thus, an internal control procedure must be established within companies that potentially have such exposure to ensure they are abiding by US GAAP. Failure to do so risks a qualified or adverse opinion from the companies’ auditors.

Source: Investing Answers

impair

verb

im·pair | \ im-ˈper

impaired; impairing

Kids Definition of impair

: to make less (as in quantity, value, or strength) or worse : damage Smoking can impair your health.

impair

transitive verb

im·pair | \ im-ˈpa(ə)r, -ˈpe(ə)r

Medical Definition of impair

: to diminish in function, ability, or quality : to weaken or make worse It has been known for nearly 100 years that memory is impaired by bilateral damage to either of two brain regions …— Larry R. Squire The physician also checks for signs of endometriosis, a condition in which the cells that normally compose the uterine lining grow outside the uterus, sometimes impairing fertility.— Martha Southgate

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impair

transitive verb

im·pair | \ im-ˈper

Legal Definition of impair

1 : to damage or make worse by or as if by diminishing impaired health

2 : to diminish the value of (property or property rights) specifically : to diminish the value of (legal contractual obligations) to the point that a party loses the benefit of the contract or the contract otherwise becomes invalid a law impairing a state's own obligations was entitled to less deference — Gerald Gunther — see also contract clause