Mar

/mɑɹ/ adj, name, noun, verb

adj, name, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: A blemish.
  • Grammar: mar is listed as adj, name, noun, verb.
  • Nearest alternatives: blemish, defect, abuse, be all thumbs.
  • Useful contrasts: unmarred, correct, excellence.
  • Usage evidence: That sum of money won't make or mar us.

How to use "mar"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "mar" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "mar" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "mar" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "mar" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "mar" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "blemish" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "mar", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A blemish.

    "For concealing deep mars, some manufacturers offer putty sticks in colors that match their panels."

  2. 2
    Alternative form of mere (“a body of standing water”). alt-of, alternative
  3. 3
    Alternative form of mayor and mair. alt-of, alternative, obsolete
  4. 4
    A title of respect in Syriac, given to all saints and also used before the Christian names of bishops.
  5. 5
    Initialism of modified aspect ratio. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, uncountable
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something (especially on a person's body) wordnet
  2. 7
    the month following February and preceding April wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To spoil; to ruin; to scathe; to damage. transitive

    "[…] and putteth ether many a good mā by ignorance in ieopardy of his life, or marreth good medicines to the great diſhoneſtie both of the Phiſician and of Goddes worthy creatures, the herbes and medecines:"

  2. 2
    destroy or injure severely wordnet
  3. 3
    make imperfect wordnet
Adjective
  1. 1
    Abbreviation of maroon (eye color). abbreviation, alt-of, not-comparable
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    Abbreviation of March. abbreviation, alt-of
  2. 2
    An earldom in the Scottish peerage.
  3. 3
    Alternative letter-case form of Mar (“March”). alt-of

Synonyms

All synonyms
blemishdefectabusebe all thumbsbesmirchblemish

Example

"That sum of money won't make or mar us."

Common questions

What does "mar" mean?

A blemish.

What is a synonym for "mar"?

Common synonyms include: blemish, defect, abuse, be all thumbs, besmirch, blemish.

How do you use "mar" in a sentence?

That sum of money won't make or mar us.

How do you pronounce "mar"?

Pronounced /mɑɹ/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle English merren, from Old English mierran (“to mar, disturb, confuse; scatter, squander, waste; upset, hinder, obstruct; err”), from Proto-Germanic *marzijaną (“to disturb, hinder”), from Proto-Indo-European *mers- (“to annoy, disturb, neglect, forget, ignore”). Cognate with Scots mer, mar (“to obstruct, impede, spoil, ruin”), Dutch marren (“to push along, delay, hinder”), dialectal German merren (“to entangle”), Icelandic merja (“to bruise, crush”), Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐍂𐌶𐌾𐌰𐌽 (marzjan, “to annoy, bother, disturb, offend”), Lithuanian miršti (“to forget, lose, become oblivious, die”), Armenian մոռանալ (moṙanal, “to forget, fail”), Sanskrit मृष् (mṛṣ, “forget, neglect”).

Etymology 2

Variant of mere.

Etymology 3

See mayor.

Etymology 4

From Scottish Gaelic Màrr, probably based on a Brythonic personal name Marsos.

Etymology 5

From Classical Syriac ܡܪܝ (mār(ī)), the first-person singular possessive form of ܡܪܐ (mārā, “lord, master”).

More for "mar"

Synonyms

Related Topic Clusters

Sales and Marketing Copy Words

Conversion-oriented language for landing pages, ads, and lifecycle campaigns.

Confusing Word Pairs

Commonly mixed-up words with quick context tests and usage cues.

Grammar Essentials for Fast Editing

High-impact grammar checks that catch most real-world writing errors quickly.

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsBrowse writing guidesExplore topic clusters