WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
im•pair /ɪmˈpɛr/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to make worse;
damage:Smoking can impair your health.
im•pair
(im pâr′),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
n.
im•pair′a•ble, adj.
im•pair′er, n.
im•pair′ment, n.
im•pair (an per′),USA pronunciation adj. [French.]
- 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.
- to grow or become worse;
lessen.
n.
- [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′er, n.
im•pair′ment, n.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See injure.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged repair.
im•pair (an per′),USA pronunciation adj. [French.]
- noting any odd number, esp. in roulette. Cf. pair.