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Affected vs Impaired - What's the difference?

affected | impaired |

As adjectives the difference between affected and impaired

is that affected is influenced or changed by something while impaired is rendered less effective.

As nouns the difference between affected and impaired

is that affected is someone affected, as by a disease while impaired is a criminal charge for impaired driving.

As verbs the difference between affected and impaired

is that affected is past tense of affect while impaired is past tense of impair.

affected

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • influenced or changed by something
    • The affected compass was impossible to use, so we got lost.
  • simulated in order to impress
    • He spoke with an affected English accent.
  • Emotionally moved; touched.
  • (algebra, archaic) adfected
    • an affected equation
  • Resulting from a mostly negative physical effect or transformation

    • See also

    * affectation

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Someone , as by a disease.

    • Verb

    (head)
  • (affect)
    • The thunderstorm affected the compass, and we got lost.

    See also

    * effected

    impaired

    English

    Adjective

    (head)
  • Rendered less effective
    • His impaired driving skill due to alcohol caused the accident.
  • inebriated, drunk.

    • Usage notes

    * Nouns to which "impaired" is often applied: vision, hearing, mobility, healing, fertility, health, judgment, cognition, consciousness, memory, concentration, function, performance, ability, capacity, person, child, adult. * Adverbs often applied to "impaired": visually, physically, mentally, emotionally, cognitively.

    Verb

    (head)
  • (impair)

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A criminal charge for impaired driving.
    • The cop gave me an impaired .