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Definition of disability noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

disability

noun
 
 
/ˌdɪsəˈbɪləti/
 
/ˌdɪsəˈbɪləti/
(plural disabilities)
Word Family
  • able adjective (≠ unable)
  • ably adverb
  • ability noun (≠ inability)
  • disabled adjective
  • disability noun
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  1.  
    [countable] a physical or mental condition that makes it difficult for somebody to do some things that most other people can do
    • a physical/developmental/intellectual disability
    • with a disability people with invisible disabilities such as hearing loss
    Extra Examples
    • We know some students with disabilities may require additional support to participate in summer camps.
    • The program provides people with intellectual and developmental disabilities opportunities to work as interns to learn job skills.
    • Despite her disability, Tina is keen to undertake a daring challenge in aid of the hospice.
    • children who have severe developmental disabilities
    • lectures for students with hearing disabilities
    • those with a visible or a hidden disability
    • He has a permanent disability which prevents him from working as a labourer.
    learning disabilityTopics Disabilityb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • chronic
    • profound
    • serious
    • …
    verb + disability
    • experience
    • have
    • suffer
    • …
    disability + noun
    • movement
    • organization
    • discrimination
    • …
    See full entry
  2.  
    [uncountable] the state of having a physical or mental condition that makes it difficult to do some things that most other people can do
    • learning to live with disability
    • He qualifies for help on the grounds of disability.
    Which Word? disabled / handicappeddisabled / handicapped
    • Disabled is the most generally accepted term to refer to people with a permanent illness or injury that makes it difficult for them to use part of their body completely or easily. Handicapped is old-fashioned and now usually considered offensive.
    • Disabled and disability can also be used to talk about a condition that affects learning or brain development:
      • intellectually disabled
      • learning disabilities.
      In the UK, the term learning difficulty is generally preferred to talk about people who have difficulty with a particular type of learning (for example, people with dyslexia). It is also sometimes used in relation to people who have more general difficulties in learning skills, understanding information, etc., but the term learning disability is generally preferred to refer to these difficulties. However, in the US the term learning disability is preferred for specific difficulties in learning (such as dyslexia), where British English prefers learning difficulty. These terms replaced older terms that are now considered offensive such as ‘mental handicap’.
    see also blind, deaf
    Extra Examples
    • The programme offers support to people living with disability.
    • She saved the money from her monthly disability payments.
    • She was a vocal disability activist.
    • Staff members have been educated in disability issues.
    • The drug's utility in preventing long-term disability is unproven.
    • an article on disability rights
    • patients who have experienced disability after stroke
    • the criteria required for disability status
    Topics Disabilityb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • chronic
    • profound
    • serious
    • …
    verb + disability
    • experience
    • have
    • suffer
    • …
    disability + noun
    • movement
    • organization
    • discrimination
    • …
    See full entry
See disability in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee disability in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: disability

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