impairment

UK: /ɪmˈpɛə^rmənt/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

im•pair /ɪmˈpɛr/   v. [~ + object]

1. to make worse;
   damage:
   Smoking can impair your health.

im•pair•ment, n. 

[uncountable] impairment of the learning process.

[countable] a hearing impairment.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

im•pair  (im pâr′), v.t. 

1. to make or cause to become worse;
   diminish in ability, value, excellence, etc.;
   weaken or damage:
   to impair one's health; to impair negotiations.

v.i. 

2. to grow or become worse;
   lessen.

n. 

3. [Archaic.] impairment.

• Late Latin pējōrāre, equivalent. to Latin pējōr-, stem of pējor worse + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive suffix; compare pejorative
• Middle French empeirer, equivalent. to em- im-¹ + peirer to make worse
• Middle English empairen, empeiren to make worse 1250–1300

im•pair′a•ble, adj. 
im•pair′er, n. 
im•pair′ment, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See injure. 

Antonyms

• 1. repair.

im•pair  (an per′), adj. [French.]

1. noting any odd number, esp. in roulette. Cf. pair.