impairment
Americannoun
-
impairments
plural
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of impairment
Explanation
An impairment makes some things difficult to do. An eye injury can be an impairment to seeing. An impairment can also be any change for the worse. People with impairments have trouble doing something. If you have a hearing impairment, you can’t hear very well. If you have a taste impairment, you can’t enjoy flavors. If you bump your head and can’t remember your name, you’re suffering a mental impairment. Some impairments are temporary. If you sprain your ankle, it will heal, but you'll have to live with the impairment for a while. Losing your job is an impairment to your career and finances. Impairments make things more difficult.
Vocabulary lists containing impairment
"Remarks at the Dedication of the Aerospace Medical Health Center," Vocabulary from the speech
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
myPerspectives 7.1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Remarks at the Dedication of the Aerospace Medical Health Center" by John F. Kennedy
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
As for whether the company would need to book an impairment on the Panama ports business, Group Chief Financial Officer Kwan Cheung said the company doesn’t think that will be necessary.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
“Over the last several decades there’s been a push among doctors and researchers to improve detection of balance impairment and falls prevention, with many multifaceted programs available to help improve balance, strength, flexibility and coordination.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
Much less is known about how to turn a positive test into a reliable timestamp for impairment.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
The study involved almost 500 participants who had an average age of 65 and showed no signs of cognitive impairment.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026
Along the way, Dr. Strayer was doing other research, related to aging and attention, studying some of the impairment associated with Parkinson’s.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
The judge said the court would still make certain accommodations, in light of Jeffries 81 years of age and cognitive impairments.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
The participants with severe language impairments performed as well as a control group.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
The neurotypical participants completed logic puzzles similar to those given to the participants with language impairments.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
She says finding available taxis has become more difficult, even with London Taxicard scheme, a subsidised taxi service for people with mobility impairments or severe sight loss.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Across America, ophthalmologists rediscovered an obscure and risky procedure called radial keratotomy, and there was a boom in surgery to correct small impairments of vision.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
