disablement
disablement — noun
1. the condition of having lost the use of part of your body or mind so that ordina
the condition of having lost the use of part of your body or mind so that ordinary tasks become difficult; also the process of reaching this state
The factory's safety rules helped reduce disablement among workers who lifted heavy loads.
collocation: reduce disablement
After the car crash, Padma faced years of disablement and could no longer paint.
collocation: years of disablement
Jude received disablement pay for six months after the accident at the warehouse.
Yael's disablement after a mild stroke made even buttoning a shirt an impossible task.
Greta's disablement came from decades of gripping heavy riveting tools at the aircraft plant.
- disability
more common and countable; refers to a long-term physical or mental condition
- incapacity
more formal and legal; stresses the inability to act rather than the bodily damage
- impairment
focuses on the specific damage or weakness itself, not the resulting inability
- ability
the power or skill to do something normally
用法筆記
This noun is uncountable and refers to the process or state of losing normal function. For a specific long-term medical condition, use the countable noun 'disability' instead. Disablement often appears in formal or legal contexts (disablement benefit, disablement pension).
常見錯誤
disablement — verb
- disablementpresent simple I / you / we / they
- disablements3rd person singular
- disablementing-ing form
- disablementedpast simple
1. to stop a device, machine, or system from working, either for a limited time or
to stop a device, machine, or system from working, either for a limited time or for good
Yuki disabled the burglar alarm with a quick swipe on the control panel.
disable + alarm — typical collocation
The mechanic disabled the engine's fuel supply before removing the rusty tank.
disable + mechanical system
A sudden power failure disabled every elevator in the forty-storey building.
Lara found that the update had disabled the printer connection on all three computers.
The app allows parents to disable certain websites on their children's phones.
- deactivate
more technical and neutral; common for electronic accounts, cards, or software functions
- shut down
implies a complete and orderly stop, usually for larger machines or computer systems
文法句型
disable + object (alarm, system, device, feature)
用法筆記
Frequently used with technology-related objects (alarm, system, airbag, feature, connection). The passive voice is natural: 'The alarm was disabled during the power cut.' Do not use this sense for everyday actions like switching off a light or a tap.
常見錯誤
2. to harm a person so badly that they lose the normal use of part of their body, o
to harm a person so badly that they lose the normal use of part of their body, often permanently
The factory blast disabled Kasia's right hand; she then learned to write with her left.
accident + disable + body part
A rare illness disabled the athlete's legs over the course of three painful years.
illness + disable + body part
Many older workers were disabled by years of breathing in dust at the cement plant.
Jack was disabled by a spinal injury he suffered during a rugby match in Dublin.
The disease slowly disabled Linh's hearing, leaving the piano teacher unable to work.
- incapacitate
more formal; stresses being unable to function rather than naming specific physical damage
- cripple
now widely considered offensive when applied to people — avoid using in modern English
- heal
to restore someone to full health after injury or illness
文法句型
be disabled by + (accident, illness, injury)
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice to name the cause of injury. The object is typically a body part or the whole person. This sense is stronger than 'injure' — it implies lasting loss of function, not just temporary harm.
常見錯誤
3. to formally take away a person's legal right or official permission to do someth
to formally take away a person's legal right or official permission to do something, such as hold a public position or vote
The court disabled Aylin from running charities for five years after the fraud case.
court + disabled + from + gerund (legal pattern)
The judge disabled the witness from speaking about the evidence outside the courtroom.
After his construction firm went bankrupt, Tariq was disabled from holding any director position.
The sports body disabled Vinícius from competing professionally for the whole season.
The ethics panel disabled Nia from voting on any matter involving her brother's firm.
- disqualify
the everyday word for removing someone's eligibility or right to participate
- debar
very formal and legalistic; almost exclusively used in court or regulatory contexts
文法句型
be disabled from + gerund (voting, holding office, serving)
用法筆記
Almost always appears in formal or legal writing. The pattern 'disabled from + gerund' is the hallmark of this sense. Does NOT apply to everyday workplace rules — only to legal or official disqualification.