THE WORDCRAFT DEFINITION DICTIONARY
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.
A USEFUL DISTINCTION
Usage note
An impairment is a reduction in function or ability; an impediment is an obstacle.
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Examples in context
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.
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Related meanings
Related words can differ in tone and context; they are not always interchangeable.
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This entry is part of the vocabulary collection supplied by GlobalRPh. Definitions are concise study meanings. Examples combine original teaching sentences with selected passages adapted from the supplied study notes; their source is labeled beside each example. A word may have additional specialized or historical senses.
Adapted from supplied vocabulary notes. Example written for WordCraft.
Source study sections: 4.
An impairment is a reduction in function or ability; an impediment is an obstacle.
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