disability
Pluraldisabilities (some meanings)
- 1The state of living with something that limits what your body or mind can do.
Like carrying a heavy bag every day that other people do not have to carry.
Her disability has not stopped her from following her dreams.
Many people learn new skills to live well with disability.
Similarincapacity
Oppositeability
Note
- 2A condition that strongly limits what a person's body or mind can do.
Like a bridge with a broken section, so some paths are harder to cross.
A learning disability can make reading slower but not impossible.
He was born with a physical disability that affects his legs.
Similarhandicap
Note
- 3Something a person cannot do easily, caused partly by their body and partly by a world not built for them.
Like a wheelchair user facing stairs: the real problem is the stairs, not the person.
His disability is made worse by buildings without ramps.
Her disability eases when classrooms are designed for everyone.
Similarhandicap
Note
- 4Money the government pays regularly to a person who is disabled.
He's been on disability since the accident at the warehouse.
Her disability barely covers the rent each month.
Note
- 5A legal reason that stops someone from doing something.
Being under 18 is a disability that stops you from signing some contracts.
The court removed the disability that had kept him from voting.
Similardisqualification
Oppositequalification, competency, capacity
Note
Less common meaning
- 6Not being able to do something.
Grossest faults, or disabilities to perform what was covenanted.
1643, J[ohn] M[ilton], The Doctrine and Discipline of DivorceHere, disabilities means not being able to do something, such as what was promised.Note
Practice
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Origin
Made around 1570 from the word "disable" plus the ending "-ity".