disabled

disabled — adjective

1. having a long-term physical or mental condition that makes everyday activities s

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

having a long-term physical or mental condition that makes everyday activities such as walking, seeing, hearing, or learning noticeably harder than they are for someone without that condition

Example

Rin has a disabled younger brother who uses a wheelchair at school and at home.

collocation: disabled + family noun (brother / sister / cousin / child)

Adina became disabled after a car accident, but she still works as a teacher.

pattern: became disabled + cause (after accident / illness)

Common collocations
  • disabled child
  • disabled student
  • disabled adult
  • disabled person
  • disabled patient
  • disabled worker
  • disabled athlete
  • disabled veteran
  • born disabled
  • become disabled
Synonyms
  • impaired

    more clinical and specific to function; often used in compound terms such as 'visually impaired' or 'hearing impaired'

  • handicapped

    an older term now widely considered outdated; it originally described a disadvantage in competitions and many find it dismissive today

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be + disabled

become + disabled

disabled + noun (person)

Usage Note

Some people prefer person-first phrasing such as "a person with a disability" over "a disabled person". However, "disabled person" is also used by some communities (especially in the UK) as a consciously chosen identity term. When unsure, person-first language is generally the safest choice.

Common Mistakes

He is disable.
He is disabled.
'disable' is a verb; 'disabled' is the adjective form.
She is a disability person.
She is a disabled person.' or 'She is a person with a disability.
'disability' is a noun; 'disabled' is the adjective form.

2. designed or provided for people who have a disability, so that they can use a bu

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

designed or provided for people who have a disability, so that they can use a building, service, or facility without difficulty

Example

The hospital has a disabled parking area right next to the main entrance.

collocation: disabled parking / access / entrance / toilet / ramp

All new public buildings must include disabled access ramps and wide doorways.

Common collocations
  • disabled parking
  • disabled access
  • disabled entrance
  • disabled toilet
  • disabled bathroom
  • disabled ramp
  • disabled space
  • disabled facilities
Synonyms
  • accessible

    broader in meaning; describes any place or feature that is easy for everyone, including disabled people, to use

Antonyms
  • inaccessible

    describes a place or feature that people with disabilities cannot use

Grammar Patterns

disabled + noun (facility / feature)

Common Mistakes

Is there a disable parking here?
Is there a disabled parking space here?
'disabled' is the adjective form; 'disable' is a verb.

disabled — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Disabled is the most widely accepted neutral term in modern English, though some prefer person-first phrasing such as 'a person with a disability.' Handicapped is an older term that many now find outdated — it originally described competitors placed at a disadvantage, and today it can sound dismissive or patronizing. Impaired is used in specific clinical or compound contexts (hearing-impaired, visually impaired) but can feel narrow and medical when applied broadly to describe a person. Differently abled is a euphemism intended to emphasize ability rather than limitation, but it has not been widely adopted and some disability advocates consider it unhelpful. For example: 'The hotel has rooms designed for disabled guests' is clear and neutral, whereas 'The hotel has rooms for the handicapped' may sound dated to many readers.

disabled ↗handicappedimpaired ↗differently abled

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • people with disabilities
  • disabled person
  • born disabled
  • become disabled

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Formed from the verb 'disable' (dis- meaning 'reversal, away' + 'able'), which first appeared in English around 1481. The adjective 'disabled' came into use in the 16th century, originally meaning 'rendered incapable in a general sense.' By the early 20th century it had narrowed to refer specifically to people with physical or mental conditions that limit everyday activities. The noun phrase 'the disabled' (as a collective group) became common in the mid-1900s but is now often replaced by 'people with disabilities' in respectful usage.