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
Corby KummerTrichloroethylene has been classified by EPA as a probable human carcinogen, although its primary effect is impairment of the central nervous system.—Chemical & Engineering News
Chemical & Engineering NewsPersons 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
Maryland MagazineStudies show that roughly 11 percent of all kindergarteners have speech or language impairments …—The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-News
The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-NewsExamples of impairment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The American Kennel Club says that identifying the cause of visual and hearing impairments is key to determining appropriate care or treatment.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
The event included 29 adaptive athletes from around the country competing in eight classifications, including limb and visual impairments and more.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
Tom Stenson, the group’s deputy legal director, told me that the organization has seen how the anti-camping laws have been hard on folks with physical or mental impairments, many of whom are older.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
These benefit cast and crew with visual impairments, who are neurodivergent or learning disabled.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for impairment
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
The event included 29 adaptive athletes from around the country competing in eight classifications, including limb and visual impairments and more.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
Tom Stenson, the group’s deputy legal director, told me that the organization has seen how the anti-camping laws have been hard on folks with physical or mental impairments, many of whom are older.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
These benefit cast and crew with visual impairments, who are neurodivergent or learning disabled.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for impairment
Cite this Entry
“Impairment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impairment. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share