disabled

adjective

dis·​abled dis-ˈā-bəld 

diz-ˈā-

1

a

: impaired or limited by a physical, mental, cognitive, or developmental condition : affected by disability

Decades of government policy and a Supreme Court decision … have established that public services for all disabled people must be provided in the least restrictive and most integrated environment possible.

—Sallie Tisdale

For disabled travelers—or anyone nursing an injury—successful trips require planning. … Rugged or remote areas may require some give and take on your part, including physical assistance or workarounds.

—Linda Burbank

… 4,000 disabled athletes from 125 nations competing in 18 sports.

—John Shaw

b

: incapacitated by illness or injury

… 17.4% of all match-ending injuries, were attributable to OT (orthopedic trauma). Two such stoppages involved multiple roundhouse kicks directed at the lateral aspect of the knee. The disabled competitors were unable to continue because of marked pain with weight bearing.

—George J. Buse and Robert M. Wood

2

of a device or mechanism : rendered inoperative (as by being damaged or deliberately altered)

a disabled alarm

They would have pulled out but they were waiting on the Iraqi police to finish their report and there was the issue of the disabled fuel truck …

—David Abrams

Synonyms

• challenged
• differently abled
• exceptional
• impaired

Examples of disabled in a Sentence

The organization is working to protect the rights of disabled veterans.

the disabled man was unable to climb the stairs without help

Recent Examples on the Web

But the issue has picked up little traction in post-pandemic Indiana, where recent legislative efforts to release even a fraction of elderly and gravely sick or disabled prisoners have failed. —The Indianapolis Star, 18 Apr. 2024

The draft rules also permit waivers for medically fragile or disabled students. —Cynthia Howell, arkansasonline.com, 14 Apr. 2024

Currently, 45 states have no cap on lifetime benefits for permanently disabled workers. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024

One-way fares are $3.50 with 50% discounts available for seniors, students and those who are low income or disabled. —Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024

Yet a more modest vision for a safe, workable neuro-prosthesis that would allow disabled people to use a computer with ease is realizable. —S. I. Rosenbaum, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2024

The Grammy winner disabled comments on the post. Combs, 54, shares daughter Love with cybersecurity specialist Dana Tran. —Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024

More:After $1 billion Medicaid budget shortfall, Indiana to cut program paying family caregivers A number of major changes that affect the aging and disabled population are set to take effect July 1. —Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 2024

Most working-age people get health insurance through their employers while older, low-income and disabled Americans often get covered through the government health insurance programs Medicare and Medicaid. —Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of disable

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing disabled

• intellectually disabled
• the disabled
• the disabled list
• the intellectually disabled

Kids Definition

disabled

adjective

: deprived of the power to perform one or more tasks (as climbing stairs or lifting heavy items) by illness or injury

also : functioning physically or mentally below normal levels in a way that limits or interferes with one's ability to receive an education or perform a job

Medical Definition

disabled

adjective

dis·​abled

1

: impaired or limited by a physical, mental, cognitive, or developmental condition : affected by disability

2

: incapacitated by illness, injury, or wounds

Legal Definition

disabled

adjective

: having a disability