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impairment
/ɪmˈpɛər.mənt/
deterioration of function or condition
The accident caused a permanent impairment to his mobility.
The accident resulted in lasting damage that reduced his ability to move.
Medicine
Medical
A reduction in the ability to perform a normal function, often due to injury, disease, or disability.
The doctor assessed the extent of his visual impairment after the surgery.
The doctor evaluated how much his vision had been affected by the operation.
In medicine, impairment refers to a specific loss of function, while 'disability' refers to the broader impact on daily life.
Law
legal
A legal term referring to a reduction in the value or utility of property or rights.
The court ruled that the neighbor's construction caused an impairment of the property's value.
The court decided that the neighbor's building project reduced the worth of the property.
In legal contexts, impairment can refer to both physical damage and reductions in legal rights.
psychological
A psychological or cognitive decline, often due to aging, injury, or mental health conditions.
Early signs of cognitive impairment may include memory lapses and difficulty concentrating.
Initial symptoms of cognitive decline might involve forgetting things and struggling to focus.
Psychological impairment can affect memory, reasoning, and emotional regulation.
Collocations
hearing impairmenta condition affecting the ability to hearcognitive impairmenta decline in mental abilitiesvisual impairmenta reduction in the ability to see
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Medical vs. Legal Use
In medical contexts, 'impairment' refers to specific losses of function, while in legal contexts, it can refer to reductions in property value or rights.
Gold Rule
Avoid Confusion with 'Disability'
Impairment refers to the specific loss of function, while disability refers to the broader impact on daily life.
Word Origin
From Middle French 'empairer' (to make worse), from Old French 'empairer' (to pair, compare), from Latin 'par' (equal). The modern sense of 'impairment' emerged in the 17th century.
Usage Notes
While 'impairment' and 'disability' are related, they are not interchangeable. Impairment refers to a specific loss of function, while disability refers to the broader impact on daily life.
Word Breakdown
im-
not
prefixpair
equal
root-ment
the state of
suffixEnglish Dictionary