/dis'euh bil"i tee/ , n. , pl. disabilities for 2.
1. lack of adequate power, strength, or physical or mental ability; incapacity.
2. a physical or mental handicap, esp. one that prevents a person from living a full, normal life or from holding a gainful job.
3. anything that disables or puts one at a disadvantage: His mere six-foot height will be a disability in professional basketball.
4. the state or condition of being disabled.
5. legal incapacity; legal disqualification.
6. See disability insurance .
[ 1570-80; DIS- 1 + ABILITY ]
Syn. 1. disqualification, incompetence, incapability, impotence. DISABILITY, INABILITY imply a lack of power or ability. A DISABILITY is some disqualifying deprivation or loss of power, physical or other: excused because of a physical disability; a temporary disability. INABILITY is a lack of ability, usually because of an inherent lack of talent, power, etc.: inability to talk, to do well in higher mathematics.
Ant. 1. ability, capacity.