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

Jacque was born with congenital rubella syndrome, which can cause a host of issues including hearing impairment, eye problems, heart defects and intellectual disabilities. —Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025

So far this year, there have been 20 new charter school impairments added to Municipal Market Analytics’ database of distressed borrowers. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 June 2025

Hurricanes and floods disproportionately affect those with mobility impairments or without evacuation support from family, friends, or community services. —Joseph Coughlin, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

The 22 dogs that were seized suffered from a variety of medical conditions, including flea infestation, vision impairment, poor grooming and skin rashes, Temple said. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above