impairment
nounUK /ɪmˈpɛəmənt/ · CA, US /ɪmˈpɛɹmənt/
Etymology From Middle English empeirement, empeyrement, emparement, from Anglo-Norman empairement, emperement, enpeirement, from Old French ampirement, anpirement, enperement, equivalent to impair + -ment.
1
The result of being impaired.
2
A deterioration or weakening.
- We determined that the car driver’s transportation of multiple teen passengers, limited driving experience, and likely impairment from effects of cannabis at the time of the crash adversely affected her judgment of the danger of entering the intersection in front of the approaching combination vehicle.2024, NTSB, Intersection Crash Between Passenger Car and Combination Vehicle, Tishomingo, Oklahoma, March 22, 2022:
3
A disability or handicap.
Medical model of disability
- visual impairment
4
A loss or absence of baseline human functioning that may lead to a disability.
Social model of disability
5
An inefficient part or factor.
6
Accounting, Business, Finance A downward revaluation, a write-down.