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impair

verb im·pair \ im-ˈper \
|Updated on: 8 Jun 2018

Definition of impair

impaired; impairing; impairs
transitive verb
: 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
—

impairer

noun
    • … the overwhelming majority of hookups involved alcohol use—an impairer of sexual judgment if ever there was one …
    • —Tiffany Sharples
—

impairment

play \im-ˈper-mənt\ noun
    • Persons with hearing impairments can now get information about local parks and their facilities by calling the recently installed TDD phone numbers within the Parks Department.
    • —Maryland Magazine

See impair defined for English-language learners

See impair defined for kids

Examples of impair in a Sentence

  1. Smoking can impair your health.

  2. Drinking impairs a person's ability to think clearly.

  3. His memory was so impaired by age that he often forgot where he was.

Recent Examples of impair from the Web

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.

Origin and Etymology of impair

Middle English empeiren, from Anglo-French empeirer, from Vulgar Latin *impejorare, from Latin in- + Late Latin pejorare to make worse — more at pejorative

impair Synonyms

Synonyms

blemish, bloody, break, compromise, crab, cripple, cross (up), damage, deface, disfigure, endamage, flaw, harm, hurt, injure, mar, spoil, vitiate;

Antonyms

doctor, fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair, revamp;

Near Antonyms

cure, heal, help, rectify, rehabilitate, remedy;

edit, remodel, revise;

ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine;

Related Words

deteriorate, enervate, enfeeble, undermine, weaken;

erode, scour, wash out, wear (away);

blight, tarnish;

dent, ding, dint;

botch, gum (up), queer;

lacerate, wound;

disable, hamstring, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, torment, torture;

annihilate, bang up, bash, batter, clobber, crush, dash, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, do in, pulverize, raze, ruin, scourge, shatter, smash, tear down, total, waste, wipe out, wreck;

Synonym Discussion of 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

Financial Definition of IMPAIR

impairment
noun

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

Phrases Related to IMPAIR

Related Phrases

IMPAIR Defined for Kids

impair

verb im·pair \ im-ˈper \

Definition of impair for Students

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

Medical Dictionary

impair

transitive verb im·pair \ im-ˈpa(ə)r, -ˈpe(ə)r \

medical Definition of impair

: to damage or make worse by or as if by diminishing in some material respect
  • his health was impaired by overwork
—

impairment

play \-ˈpa(ə)r-mənt\ noun

Law Dictionary

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
—

impairment

noun

Learn More about impair

  1. See words that rhyme with impair Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for impair Spanish Central: Translation of impair Nglish: Translation of impair for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of impair for Arabic speakers

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