Impairment (redirected from impairments)

im·pair  (m-pâr)

tr.v. im·paired, im·pair·ing, im·pairs

To cause to diminish, as in strength, value, or quality: an injury that impaired my hearing; a severe storm impairing communications.

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[Middle English empairen, from Old French empeirer, from Vulgar Latin *impirre : Latin in-, causative pref.; see in-² + Late Latin pirre, to worsen (from Latin pior, worse; see ped- in Indo-European roots).]

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im·pairment n.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	impairment - the occurrence of a change for the worse damage, harm alteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago" detriment, hurt - a damage or loss deformation, distortion - a change for the worse ravel, ladder, run - a row of unravelled stitches; "she got a run in her stocking"
	2.	impairment - a symptom of reduced quality or strength deterioration decay - an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying; "the corpse was in an advanced state of decay"; "the house had fallen into a serious state of decay and disrepair" corrosion - a state of deterioration in metals caused by oxidation or chemical action desolation, devastation - the state of being decayed or destroyed decrepitude, dilapidation - a state of deterioration due to old age or long use wear - impairment resulting from long use; "the tires showed uneven wear"
	3.	impairment - the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness; "reading disability"; "hearing impairment" disability, disablement, handicap bandy leg, bandyleg, bowleg, genu varum, tibia vara, bow leg - a leg bowed outward at the knee (or below the knee) anorgasmia - absence of an orgasm in sexual relations 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"
	4.	impairment - damage that results in a reduction of strength or quality scathe, damage, harm, hurt - the act of damaging something or someone
	5.	impairment - the act of making something futile and useless (as by routine) deadening, stultification, constipation degradation, debasement - changing to a lower state (a less respected state)