IMPACT

[noun] - the force with which one thing hits another or with which two things hit each other, or (figurative) a powerful effect that something, esp. something new, has on a situation or personThe impact of the crash had reduced the car to a third of its original length. [U]The bullet explodes on impact (= at the moment when it hits something). [U](figurative) The anti-smoking campaign had had/made quite an impact on young people. [U](figurative) The new proposals were intended to soften the impact of the reformed tax system. [U](figurative) It is important to cushion the worst social, economic and environmental impacts of big business. [C]