disability
dih-suh-BIH-lih-tee
Disability (noun) means a physical or mental condition that significantly limits a person's abilities or functioning. Example: “Her disability means she uses a wheelchair outside the house.”
noun
1
A physical or mental condition that significantly limits a person's abilities or functioning.
"Her disability means she uses a wheelchair outside the house."
"The building added ramps to accommodate people with a disability."
"She has spoken publicly about living with a disability since childhood."
2
Regular payments made to someone who cannot work because of such a condition, usually from the government or an insurer.
"He receives disability payments each month while he recovers at home."
"He has been on disability since the accident."
"She applied for disability after her surgery left her unable to work."
How to use disability
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA lasting condition that limits what someone can do physically or mentally, or the benefit paid to someone in that situation.
Common pairings
learning disability
people with disabilities
disability benefits
physical disability
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Word forms
- Plural
- disabilities
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Her _____ means she uses a wheelchair outside the house.
Etymology
From disable plus the noun-forming suffix -ity, first recorded around 1570.
Class of 1570
disability joined the language around 1570.
See the full Class of 1570 →
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for disability
See all rhymes for disability →Frequently asked questions
What does “disability” mean?
The word “disability” means a physical or mental condition that significantly limits a person's abilities or functioning. In plain terms, a lasting condition that limits what someone can do physically or mentally, or the benefit paid to someone in that situation.
How do you pronounce “disability”?
“Disability” is pronounced dih-suh-BIH-lih-tee (/dɪsəˈbɪlɪti/ in IPA).
How do you use “disability” in a sentence?
Here is “disability” used in a sentence: “The building added ramps to accommodate people with a disability.”
What part of speech is “disability”?
“Disability” is a noun.
Where does the word “disability” come from?
The word “disability” dates back to around 1570. From disable plus the noun-forming suffix -ity, first recorded around 1570.
Is “disability” a common word?
“Disability” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “disability” have?
“Disability” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a physical or mental condition that significantly limits a person's abilities or functioning.
What is the difference between a 'disability' and an 'impairment'?
An impairment is a loss or difference in a body function or structure, while a disability is the resulting limitation on a person's activities or full participation. In short, the impairment is the underlying condition and the disability is its effect on everyday functioning.
What is the difference between 'disability' and 'handicap'?
'Disability' is the preferred, neutral term for a condition that limits functioning. 'Handicap' is now often regarded as dated or offensive when applied to people, though it survives in contexts such as sport and golf.
What is a 'learning disability'?
A learning disability is a condition that affects how a person takes in, processes, or retains certain kinds of information, which can make specific tasks such as reading or maths harder. The exact meaning of the term can vary between countries.
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