SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
impairment
noun
A reduction or loss in an ability, function, or working capacity.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Reduction in function
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topImpairment can be partial; complete inability or disability should not be assumed from the word alone.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See impairment in use
Corrosion caused an impairment of the old mechanism's movement.
A separate problem caused an impairment of the editing system: a failed search function reduced the team's ability to find older files.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license