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Incapacity vs Disability - What's the difference?

incapacity | disability | Synonyms |

Disability is a synonym of incapacity.



As nouns the difference between incapacity and disability

is that incapacity is the lack of a capacity; an inability while disability is state of being disabled; deprivation or want of ability; absence of competent physical, intellectual, or moral power, means, fitness, and the like.

incapacity

English

Noun

(incapacities)
  • The lack of a capacity; an inability
  • * 1605: Francis Bacon, The Advancement of Learning
  • So that it is not the insufficiency or incapacity of man's mind, but it is the remote standing or placing thereof that breedeth these mazes and incomprehensions;

    disability

    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