impairment

noun

im·​pair·​ment im-ˈper-mənt 

plural impairments

: the act of impairing something or the state or condition of being impaired : diminishment or loss of function or ability

… it does not help reverse the impairment of cognitive activity caused by diazepam …

—Corby Kummer

Trichloroethylene has been classified by EPA as a probable human carcinogen, although its primary effect is impairment of the central nervous system.

—Chemical & Engineering News

Persons with hearing impairments can now get information about local parks and their facilities by calling the recently installed TDD phone numbers within the Parks Department.

—Maryland Magazine

Studies show that roughly 11 percent of all kindergarteners have speech or language impairments …

—The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-News

Examples of impairment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At the same time, Blumenreich said an individual could have a moderate size stroke in the part of the brain that doesn’t cause as significant impairments. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026

Among other children needing palliative care, about 18% are living with complications from prematurity, roughly 16% suffer from congenital malformations, and about 16% are dealing with injuries leading to severe neurologic impairment. — Emilee Flynn, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2026

Although the diagnosis covered a much larger population, a living patient still had to show cognitive impairment to qualify. — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Police say reckless driving and impairment are believed to have played a role. — Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above