impairment
C1Formal, Technical
Definition
Meaning
The state or fact of being weakened, damaged, or made less effective.
A condition in which a part of a person's body or mind does not work correctly, often used in legal, medical, and financial contexts to denote a reduction in value, function, or ability.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. Often implies a deterioration from a previous, better state. Commonly collocates with terms related to senses, cognition, function, and value. Can be permanent or temporary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Neutral/technical in both varieties. Slightly more clinical connotation than 'disability' in certain contexts.
Frequency
Equally common in formal and technical registers in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
impairment of [noun] (e.g., impairment of vision)impairment in [noun] (e.g., impairment in functioning)[adjective] impairment (e.g., severe impairment)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this noun. The verb 'impair' features in 'impaired driving' (legal term).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a reduction in the value of an asset on a company's balance sheet (e.g., 'goodwill impairment').
Academic
Used in psychology, medicine, and sociology to describe reduced functional capacity (e.g., 'mild cognitive impairment').
Everyday
Most commonly used in discussions about health, disabilities, and driving (e.g., 'He has a visual impairment.').
Technical
Precise term in medical diagnostics, financial accounting, and legal frameworks concerning disability rights.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The fog could impair visibility on the motorway.
- Lack of sleep may impair your judgement.
American English
- The head injury impaired his ability to focus.
- Alcohol impairs driving skills.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb. Use 'in an impaired manner' or rephrase.
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb. Use 'in an impaired way' or rephrase.
adjective
British English
- He was charged with driving while impaired.
- The report noted impaired liver function.
American English
- She was arrested for impaired driving.
- The test showed impaired cognitive abilities.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He has an impairment, so he uses a wheelchair.
- Wearing glasses helps with her visual impairment.
- The accident caused a temporary hearing impairment.
- Some learning impairments require special teaching methods.
- The new law protects the rights of people with physical impairments.
- Doctors diagnosed a mild cognitive impairment.
- The company recorded a significant impairment charge against its assets this quarter.
- Chronic pain can lead to functional impairment in daily activities.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'IMPAIR' (to damage) + 'MENT' (the state of). It's the STATE OF BEING impaired.
Conceptual Metaphor
FUNCTION IS A MACHINE / A PATH: Impairment is a broken part of the machine or an obstacle on the path, preventing smooth operation or progress.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'нарушение' for all contexts. 'Нарушение' is broader (e.g., violation of rules). For medical/functional sense, 'расстройство' or 'ослабление' might be closer. For asset value, use 'обесценивание'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'impairment' (noun) with 'impair' (verb). Using 'impairment' to mean a minor, trivial flaw in everyday objects (too strong). Misspelling as 'imparement' or 'imparment'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'impairment' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An 'impairment' is the actual loss or abnormality of a bodily structure or function (e.g., damaged optic nerve). A 'disability' is the social consequence or restriction caused by that impairment (e.g., not being able to read standard print). Impairment is more medical; disability is more social/contextual.
Yes, but typically in formal or technical contexts, especially regarding value or function. For example, 'The scratch caused an impairment to the painting's value' or 'The software bug resulted in an impairment of system performance.' It sounds overly formal for everyday object flaws.
No. It can be temporary (e.g., temporary hearing impairment from a loud concert) or permanent (e.g., permanent visual impairment from an inherited condition). The context or adjectives like 'temporary' or 'permanent' clarify this.
In both British and American English, the 'ai' is pronounced like the 'ai' in 'air' or 'care'. The main difference is in the vowel of the second syllable: BrE uses a schwa (/ə/), while AmE uses an 'r'-coloured vowel (/ər/).