disabled

adjective

dis·​abled dis-ˈā-bəld How to pronounce disabled (audio)
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

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 The Social Security Administration sends checks to more than 70 million beneficiaries, including retirees and disabled people, totaling nearly $120 billion every month. Tara Siegel Bernard, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Like many disabled people, Rio-Glick has felt othered by peers, relatives, and strangers. Isabella Cueto, STAT, 8 Mar. 2024 One challenge the film presented was the different levels of integration of disabled people in Western and Eastern societies and the general familiarity with people with special needs among Chinese audiences. Ed Meza, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 State programs flexibility: Since 2015, disabled people can enroll in any state’s program that accepts out-of-state residents. Winnie Sun, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The city also asks residents to assist neighbors with clearing snow, especially those who are elderly or disabled. Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 Newsom vetoed a bill last fall that aimed to open California’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants to undocumented people who are blind, disabled or over 65. Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 2024 Beaudette's car left the road towards and came to a stop in a ditch, while Murphy's car was left disabled in the northbound lane. Daniel McFadin, arkansasonline.com, 3 Mar. 2024 One, which was a disabled silver Chevrolet Traverse, contained Ariel and a second child seated in the back, who were both injured. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disabled.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of disable

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of disabled was in 1633

Dictionary Entries Near disabled

Cite this Entry

“Disabled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disabled. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on disabled

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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