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What is the difference between disability and impairment?

disability | impairment |

As nouns the difference between disability and impairment

is that disability is state of being disabled; deprivation or want of ability; absence of competent physical, intellectual, or moral power, means, fitness, and the like while impairment is the result of being impaired; a deterioration or weakening; a disability or handicap; an inefficient part or factor.

disability

English

(wikipedia disability) (Webster 1913)

Noun

(en-noun)
  • State of being disabled; deprivation or want of ability; absence of competent physical, intellectual, or moral power, means, fitness, and the like.
  • * (rfdate),
    • Grossest faults, or disabilities to perform what was covenanted.
  • * (rfdate),
    • Chatham refused to see him, pleading his disability .
  • Want of legal qualification to do a thing; legal incapacity or incompetency.
  • * (rfdate), .
    • The disabilities of idiocy, infancy, and coverture.
  • (uncountable, informal) Regular payments received by a disabled person, usually from the state
    • I had to go on disability after the accident.
    Did you get your disability this month?

    Usage notes

    * Disability and inability: Inability is an inherent want of power to perform the thing in question; disability arises from some deprivation or loss of the needed competency. One who becomes deranged is under a disability of holding his estate; and one who is made a judge, of deciding in his own case. A man may decline an office on account of his inability to discharge its duties; he may refuse to accept a trust or employment on account of some disability prevents him from entering into such engagements.

    Synonyms

    * disqualification * impotence * inability * incapacity * incompetency * incompetence * weakness

    Antonyms

    * ability * capacity * competence * competency * potence * potential * qualification * strength

    Related terms

    * disable * disabled * disablism

    impairment

    English

    Alternative forms

    * empairment (rare)

    Noun

    (wikipedia impairment) (en noun)
  • The result of being impaired; a deterioration or weakening; a disability or handicap; an inefficient part or factor.
  • (accounting) A downward revaluation, a write-down.