impedance

noun

im·​ped·​ance im-ˈpē-dᵊn(t)s How to pronounce impedance (audio)
: something that impedes : hindrance: such as
a
: the apparent opposition in an electrical circuit to the flow of an alternating current that is analogous to the actual electrical resistance to a direct current and that is the ratio of effective electromotive force to the effective current
b
: the ratio of the pressure to the volume displacement at a given surface in a sound-transmitting medium

Examples of impedance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Most amplifiers control voltage instead of current, but the link between current and voltage is made via the impedance of the drive unit, which will vary depending on temperature, frequency and the coil’s position inside the magnet. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025 Esophageal impedance: In a hospital setting, this test uses a probe inserted into your nose to detect any bile in the esophagus over a day. Cristina Mutchler, Health, 11 Jan. 2025 But altering the impedance without also changing the transformer’s voltage ratio initially seemed impossible, Ndiaye says. IEEE Spectrum, 11 Dec. 2024 Sleep tracking is also a strong point, and the advanced bioelectrical impedance analysis gives you a wide spectrum of data like BMI, skeletal muscle and more. K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 3 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for impedance 

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impedance was in 1886

Dictionary Entries Near impedance

Cite this Entry

“Impedance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impedance. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Medical Definition

impedance

noun
im·​ped·​ance im-ˈpēd-ᵊn(t)s How to pronounce impedance (audio)
1
: the apparent opposition in an electrical circuit to the flow of an alternating current that is analogous to the actual electrical resistance to a direct current and that is the ratio of effective electromotive force to the effective current
2
: the ratio of the pressure to the volume displacement at a given surface in a sound-transmitting medium
3
: opposition to blood flow in the circulatory system

More from Merriam-Webster on impedance

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