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

Speaking in the Commons, Rayner said she hoped her case would raise awareness of the "complex" tax rules facing divorced parents of disabled children.

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Hall was hired to be Delbis’ on-set access and creative coach, a job she believes she has invented, meant to make the experience for neurodivergent and disabled actors easier.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Given increases in the average human lifespan, the existing age cutoffs that presume a 50-year-old who can perform only sedentary work is disabled while a 49-year-old is not represent loose standards that need modernization.

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Charlotte Cheshire, of Newport in Shropshire, has a son who was left severely disabled because of maternity failings in the county.

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The Democrats are pushing for an extension on Affordable Care Act-related tax credits, and want Republicans to reverse cuts to Medicaid, the government program for low-income, disabled and/or elderly Americans.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

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