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

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

His breakout sitcom Special, based on his own journey as a gay disabled man coming to terms with his cerebral palsy, ran for two seasons on Netflix and was nominated for four Emmy Awards. —Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Apr. 2024

That subminimum wage remains in effect, and continues to be a source of economic discrimination against disabled workers employed by corporations like Goodwill, Walmart, and others. —Kim Kelly, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024

Johnson’s father, an assistant chief in the local fire department, was critically injured while fighting a fire at a cold storage facility when Johnson was 12, leaving him permanently disabled. —Kyle Mullins, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Company to pay March 20, 2024 10:51 AM Read Next South Carolina Walmart kept disabled worker on unpaid leave for 3 years, suit says. —Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024

The Big Bang Theory star, 38, teamed up with The Dodo for its Dodo Dream Date series in the hopes of helping a disabled 9-year-old Pit Bull Terrier named Peaches find a forever home. —Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024

Aster Aging, Mesa, $10,000 To deliver 3,000 nutritious Meals on Wheels with daily wellness checks to older and disabled adults in Mesa. —Alexis Waiss, The Arizona Republic, 17 Mar. 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