dis·a·bil·i·ty

(dĭs′ə-bĭl′ĭ-tē)

n. pl. dis·a·bil·i·ties

a. A physical or mental condition that significantly limits a person's motor, sensory, or cognitive abilities.

b. The state of having such a condition. discrimination based on disability.

a. A program that provides financial support to people with such conditions: has been on disability for a month.

b. The economic assistance provided by such a program: has been getting disability since the accident.

3. Law Lack of legal capacity to perform some act, such as to enter into a contract, because of infancy or lack of soundness of mind.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

disability

(ˌdɪsəˈbɪlɪtɪ)

n, pl -ties

1. the condition of being unable to perform a task or function because of a physical or mental impairment

2. something that disables; handicap

3. lack of necessary intelligence, strength, etc

4. (Law) an incapacity in the eyes of the law to enter into certain transactions

Usage: Many deaf and hard of hearing people object to the use of the phrase hearing disability

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dis•a•bil•i•ty

(ˌdɪs əˈbɪl ɪ ti)

n., pl. -ties.

1. lack of adequate strength or physical or mental ability; incapacity.

2. a physical or mental handicap, esp. one that prevents a person from living a normal life or from holding a specific job.

3. anything that disables or puts one at a disadvantage.

4. the state or condition of being disabled.

5. legal disqualification.

6. disability insurance.

[1570–80]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

disability - the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness; "reading disability"; "hearing impairment"

disablement, handicap, impairment

bandy leg, bandyleg, bowleg, genu varum, tibia vara, bow leg - a leg bowed outward at the knee (or below the knee)

dysphasia - an impairment of language (especially speech production) that is usually due to brain damage

unfitness, softness - poor physical condition; being out of shape or out of condition (as from a life of ease and luxury)

disability of walking - a disability that interferes with or prevents walking

astasia - inability to stand due to muscular incoordination

amputation - a condition of disability resulting from the loss of one or more limbs

hearing disorder, hearing impairment - impairment of the sense of hearing

dysomia - impairment of the sense of smell

vision defect, visual defect, visual disorder, visual impairment - impairment of the sense of sight

descensus, prolapse, prolapsus - the slipping or falling out of place of an organ (as the uterus)

hypesthesia, hypoesthesia - impairment of tactile sensitivity; decrease of sensitivity

genu valgum, knock-knee, tibia valga - an inward slant of the thigh

pigeon toes - disability in which the toes are turned inward; often associated with knock-knee

bandy legs, bow leg, bow legs - outward curvature of the legs

disintegration - a loss (or serious disruption) of organization in some system; "a disintegration of personality"

disability

noun handicap, affliction, disorder, defect, impairment, disablement, infirmity Facilities for people with disabilities are still inadequate.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

عَجْزعَجْز، فُقْدان الأهلِيَّه

invaliditahandicap

handicapinvaliditet

Behinderung Körperbehinderung

αναπηρία

discapacidad invalidez minusvalía incapacidad

vamma

infirmité handicap

invaliditet

rokkantság

fötlun

disabilità invalidi invalidit...invalido

身体障害

장애

nesposobnost

funktionshinder

ความพิการ

sakatlık

sự tàn tật

伤残残疾

disability

[ˌdɪsəˈbɪlɪtɪ]

A. N

1. (= state) → invalidez f, discapacidad f, minusvalía f; (= injury, illness, condition) → discapacidad f, minusvalía f
people with a disability → los discapacitados, los minusválidos

2. (fig) → desventaja f

B. CPD disability allowance N (permanent) → subsidio m por incapacidad laboral permanente; (temporary) → subsidio m por incapacidad laboral transitoria
disability pension N → pensión f de invalidez

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

disability

[ˌdɪsəˈbɪlɪti] n (= handicap) → infirmité f, handicap m
a physical disability → un handicap physique
a mental disability → un handicap mental
to have a disability → avoir un handicap
people with disabilities → les personnes handicapées learning disabilitydisability allowance n → allocation f d'invaliditédisability pension n → pension f d'invalidité

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

disability

(= handicap, injury etc) → Behinderung f

(Jur) → Rechtsunfähigkeit f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

disability

[ˌdɪsəˈbɪlɪtɪ] n (injury etc) → menomazione f, infermità f inv; (state) → invalidità f inv, handicap m inv (Law) (fig) → incapacità f inv
disability allowance → pensione f d'invalidità

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

disable

(disˈeibl) verb

to reduce the ability or strength of; to cripple. He was disabled during the war.

disability (disəˈbiləti) – plural disaˈbilities – noun

something which disables. He has a disability which prevents him from walking very far.

ˈdisability payment noun

an amount of money regularly paid by the government to disabled people.

disˈabled adjective

lacking ability or strength; crippled. a disabled soldier.

disˈablement noun

disability

→ عَجْز invalidita handicap Behinderung αναπηρία discapacidad vamma handicap invaliditet disabilità 身体障害 장애 invaliditeit uførhet niemożność deficiência инвалидность funktionshinder ความพิการ sakatlık sự tàn tật 残疾

dis·a·bil·i·ty

n. incapacidad, inhabilidad; invalidez, impedimento; disminución de una capacidad física o mental.

disability

n (pl -ties) discapacidad f, (esp. with respect to work, possibly temporary) incapacidad f, (disorder) trastorno; developmental — discapacidad del desarrollo; intellectual — discapacidad intelectual; learning — trastorno de aprendizaje; physical — discapacidad física

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

And for fear that the idea may still lurk in some minds that my preceding years of drinking were the cause of my disabilities, I here point out that my Japanese cabin boy, Nakata, still with me, was rotten with fever, as was Charmian, who in addition was in the slough of a tropical neurasthenia that required several years of temperate climates to cure, and that neither she nor Nakata drank or ever had drunk.

View in context

She is oppressed, humiliated by the consciousness of her disabilities."

View in context

Manson Mingott, in spite of her physical disabilities, had resolved on being present at the ceremony; and the idea was so much in keeping with her sporting character that bets ran high at the clubs as to her being able to walk up the nave and squeeze into a seat.

View in context

Among his other disabilities, he was a consumptive, and I knew that if he attempted to bail, it might bring on a hemorrhage.

View in context

Pope's physical disabilities brought him to premature old age, and he died in 1744.

View in context

Past casual illegal drug use is not a disability, so questions regarding such use are permissible: "Have you ever used illegal drugs?;" "When was the last time you used illegal drugs?;" "Have you used illegal drugs in the last 6 months?" [27] It would violate the ADA, however, to ask applicants to list all medications they currently take because the question is likely to illicit information concerning disabilities. There is one exception to this prohibition against inquiring about current medicat ion use.

The Americans with Disabilities Act

[15] This 20-item questionnaire was developed to measure the severity of the most common hearing disabilities and hearing handicaps in a general adult population.

Patients' perceived outcomes after stapedectomy for otoscierosis

Jenkins' experience is familiar to thousands of African Americans with disabilities who feel they are barred from good jobs for reasons beyond their control.

Challenged but not disabled

In fact, workers age 55 or older are two to five times more likely than younger workers to have disabilities related to diabetes, eye disorders, cardiovascular conditions such as coronary artery disease, and cancer, according to MetLife claims data.

Working warriors: the growing number of people working beyond common retirement ages offers new opportunities for disability carriers and other insurers

The Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA), Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act have all been used by individuals, schools and athletic associations in either defending or opposing rules about individuals with disabilities in high school athletics.

An overview: individuals with disabilities and the interscholastic athletic program

The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have worked out a compromise plan to pay about $500 million in back retirement pay to more than 100,000 military retirees who receive compensation for service-connected disabilities.

Some disabled retirees to receive back pay

In actuality, disability and giftedness are far from separate; in fact, many students possess both disabilities and giftedness.

Introduction to special issue: examining disability and giftedness in schools