# IDA

/ˈaɪdə/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ida
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a formal study that looks at how a project might affect the people and environment around it. It helps leaders decide if a plan is safe and fair before they start building.

For teachers: an assessment process used to evaluate the potential social, environmental, and economic consequences of a proposed project or policy. Often used in international development and urban planning contexts.

## Examples

- The government ordered an IDA before building the new dam.
- The mining company had to submit a comprehensive IDA to prove that the local water supply would remain uncontaminated.
- While the technical feasibility was clear, the IDA revealed that the proposed highway would displace several historic communities, leading the committee to suggest an alternative route.

## Usage notes

- Often functions as an acronym for Impact Development Assessment or Integrated Development Assessment; usually takes the indefinite article 'an'.

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