IMPAIRMENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does impairment mean? 

• IMPAIRMENT (noun)
  The noun IMPAIRMENT has 5 senses:

1. the occurrence of a change for the worse

2. a symptom of reduced quality or strength

3. the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness

4. damage that results in a reduction of strength or quality

5. the act of making something futile and useless (as by routine)

  Familiarity information: IMPAIRMENT used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IMPAIRMENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The occurrence of a change for the worse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

damage; harm; impairment

Hypernyms ("impairment" is a kind of...):

alteration; change; modification (an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "impairment"):

deformation; distortion (a change for the worse)

ladder; ravel; run (a row of unravelled stitches)

detriment; hurt (a damage or loss)

Derivation:

impair (make worse or less effective)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A symptom of reduced quality or strength

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

deterioration; impairment

Hypernyms ("impairment" is a kind of...):

decay (an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "impairment"):

corrosion (a state of deterioration in metals caused by oxidation or chemical action)

desolation; devastation (the state of being decayed or destroyed)

decrepitude; dilapidation (a state of deterioration due to old age or long use)

wear (impairment resulting from long use)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

disability; disablement; handicap; impairment

Context example:

hearing impairment

Hypernyms ("impairment" is a kind of...):

softness; unfitness (poor physical condition; being out of shape or out of condition (as from a life of ease and luxury))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "impairment"):

vision defect; visual defect; visual disorder; visual impairment (impairment of the sense of sight)

disintegration (a loss (or serious disruption) of organization in some system)

bandy legs; bow leg; bow legs (outward curvature of the legs)

pigeon toes (disability in which the toes are turned inward; often associated with knock-knee)

genu valgum; knock-knee; tibia valga (an inward slant of the thigh)

hypesthesia; hypoesthesia (impairment of tactile sensitivity; decrease of sensitivity)

descensus; prolapse; prolapsus (the slipping or falling out of place of an organ (as the uterus))

dysomia (impairment of the sense of smell)

hearing disorder; hearing impairment (impairment of the sense of hearing)

amputation (a condition of disability resulting from the loss of one or more limbs)

astasia (inability to stand due to muscular incoordination)

disability of walking (a disability that interferes with or prevents walking)

dysphasia (an impairment of language (especially speech production) that is usually due to brain damage)

anorgasmia (absence of an orgasm in sexual relations)

bandy leg; bandyleg; bow leg; bowleg; genu varum; tibia vara (a leg bowed outward at the knee (or below the knee))

Sense 4

Meaning:

Damage that results in a reduction of strength or quality

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("impairment" is a kind of...):

damage; harm; hurt; scathe (the act of damaging something or someone)

Derivation:

impair (make imperfect)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The act of making something futile and useless (as by routine)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

constipation; deadening; impairment; stultification

Hypernyms ("impairment" is a kind of...):

debasement; degradation (changing to a lower state (a less respected state))

 Context examples 

Signs and symptoms include progressive vision loss, progressive motor skills deterioration, mental impairment, and seizures.

(Batten Disease, NCI Thesaurus)

The instrument is scored on a five-grade scale for each category, where grade 0 represents very severe impairment and grade 4 represents no impairment.

(Baseline Dyspnea Index Questionnaire, NCI Thesaurus)

Baseline Dyspnea Index (BDI) Functional impairment.

(BDI - Functional Impairment, NCI Thesaurus)

A specific behavioral problem that occurs in persistent patterns and characteristic clusters and that causes clinically significant impairment.

(Behavior-Related Disorder, NCI Thesaurus)

However, if manifested post-traumatically, the cause is most likely due to neurologic impairment.

(Capgras Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder characterized by marked impairments in social interaction and communication accompanied by a pattern of repetitive, stereotyped behaviors and activities.

(Autism, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder characterized by lack of coordination of muscle movements resulting in the impairment or inability to perform voluntary activities.

(Ataxia, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

The researchers found that slightly lower sodium levels in the blood were related to both cognitive impairment and declines in cognitive function over time.

(Blood Sodium Levels May Affect Cognition in Older Adults, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

A genetic syndrome characterized by mental retardation, speech impairment, microcephaly, ataxia, and seizures.

(Angelman Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder most often diagnosed in the pediatric years in which the individual displays marked impairment in social interaction and a repetitive, stereotyped pattern of behavior.

(Asperger Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)