disabled

[dis-ey-buhld]

adjective

1. physically or mentally impaired, injured, or incapacitated.

2. not working or operating properly, or at all; incapable or made incapable of functioning: They called the Coast Guard to tow the disabled boat to shore.

   This feature is normally disabled on company computers.

   They called the Coast Guard to tow the disabled boat to shore.

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. Usually the disabled physically or mentally impaired people.

   Ramps have been installed at the entrances to accommodate the disabled.

disabled

/ dɪˈseɪbəld /

adjective

1. 1. lacking one or more physical powers, such as the ability to walk or to coordinate one's movements, as from the effects of a disease or accident, or through mental impairment

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the disabled

Usage

Nowadays it is better to refer to people with physical disabilities of various kinds by describing the specific difficulty in question rather than talking about the disabled as a group, which is considered somewhat offensive. Some people also object to the word disabled to refer to facilities for people with disabilites, and prefer the word accessible

Sensitive Note

Disabled is a comprehensive umbrella term to describe people or communities of people who live with functional limitations in carrying out major life activities, such as walking, lifting, seeing, or learning. When should disabled be used to describe someone? First, in many cases, there is no need to mention disability; it is often not relevant to the information being conveyed. In most cases, when disabilities are mentioned, it is preferable to name the person’s specific physical or mental condition, like diabetes or traumatic brain injury. However, when addressing an issue that affects the larger community of people living with such functional limitations in daily activities, for example, when discussing accessibility in the workplace, disabled and disability are the appropriate terms. Some people prefer person-first constructions like “a person with a disability” to emphasize the whole person, not defined exclusively by living with a disability. Others use identity-first language like “a disabled person” to center the disability as an important aspect of identity and push back on the presupposition that disability is inherently negative, unmentionable, or something to be politely ignored. Following similar logic, the euphemisms “special,” “challenged,” “differently abled,” and “handicapable” are not recommended. The straightforward, simple, and descriptive term disabled is preferred.

Other Word Forms

• nondisabled noun
• semidisabled adjective
• undisabled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disabled¹

First recorded in 1625–35; disable + -ed ²

Example Sentences

My dad is 85 and has his mind, but he’s physically disabled and not able to keep his house up.

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Communications watchdog Ofcom fined the telecoms giant after ruling it failed to protect vulnerable users of the devices, typically elderly and disabled people, during the transition from analogue to digital.

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Her husband is a fully disabled Navy veteran dependent on benefits from Veterans Affairs.

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I don’t need the money, as I have my pension and I am currently 90% disabled and comfortable.

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Young disabled people have reacted angrily to the first significant changes to the Motability scheme made since it was launched nearly 50 years ago.

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Related Words

• broken 
• broken-down 
• down 
• in disrepair www.thesaurus.com
• inoperative 
• out of order 
• out of service www.thesaurus.com