Meaning & Definition
noun
a blemish or scar.
He proudly displayed the mar on his arm from his adventurous childhood.
verb
to impair the quality or appearance of; to spoil.
The graffiti on the wall marred the beauty of the historic building.
to damage or disfigure something.
The storm marred the landscape with fallen trees and debris.
to detract from; to spoil the perfection of.
The slight scratch on the surface did not mar the overall value of the painting.
to make less perfect; to ruin.
Her constant criticism marred his confidence.
Etymology
Middle English: from Old French 'marer', from Latin 'mārare' meaning 'to ruin'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
mar someone's plans:
to disrupt or ruin someone's intentions or arrangements.
marred by imperfections:
affected by flaws or defects.
Slang Meanings
to mess up or spoil something in an informal context
Don't mar the surprise party with unnecessary details.