disabled

adjective

dis·​abled dis-ˈā-bəld 

diz-ˈā-

1

a

: impaired or limited by a physical, mental, cognitive, or developmental condition : affected by disability

Decades of government policy and a Supreme Court decision … have established that public services for all disabled people must be provided in the least restrictive and most integrated environment possible.

—Sallie Tisdale

For disabled travelers—or anyone nursing an injury—successful trips require planning. … Rugged or remote areas may require some give and take on your part, including physical assistance or workarounds.

—Linda Burbank

… 4,000 disabled athletes from 125 nations competing in 18 sports.

—John Shaw

b

: incapacitated by illness or injury

… 17.4% of all match-ending injuries, were attributable to OT (orthopedic trauma). Two such stoppages involved multiple roundhouse kicks directed at the lateral aspect of the knee. The disabled competitors were unable to continue because of marked pain with weight bearing.

—George J. Buse and Robert M. Wood

2

of a device or mechanism : rendered inoperative (as by being damaged or deliberately altered)

a disabled alarm

They would have pulled out but they were waiting on the Iraqi police to finish their report and there was the issue of the disabled fuel truck …

—David Abrams

Synonyms

• challenged
• differently abled
• exceptional
• impaired

Examples of disabled in a Sentence

The organization is working to protect the rights of disabled veterans.

the disabled man was unable to climb the stairs without help

Recent Examples on the Web

Some experts said that could alienate older generations who aren’t as tech savvy, disabled Americans who may also rely on disability payments or people from rural communities. —Medora Lee, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025

Arnold is also a co-director of the UK’s Deaf & Disabled People in TV, a group seeking to improve conditions and representation for deaf and disabled people in the industry. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2025

At the same time, older and disabled Americans who don’t have cars and aren’t comfortable using the internet may be in for some dramatic changes. —Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Mar. 2025

It’s been an honor to contribute my time and experiences to ensure all disabled fans feel seen. —Boston Herald Staff, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of disable

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing disabled

• disabled list
• intellectually disabled
• the disabled
• the intellectually disabled

Rhymes for disabled

• enabled
• mislabeled
• unlabeled
• unlabelled
• abled
• cabled
• fabled
• gabled
• labeled
• labelled
• stabled
• tabled

Kids Definition

disabled

adjective

: deprived of the power to perform one or more tasks (as climbing stairs or lifting heavy items) by illness or injury

also : functioning physically or mentally below normal levels in a way that limits or interferes with one's ability to receive an education or perform a job

Medical Definition

disabled

adjective

dis·​abled

1

: impaired or limited by a physical, mental, cognitive, or developmental condition : affected by disability

2

: incapacitated by illness, injury, or wounds

Legal Definition

disabled

adjective

: having a disability