impairment
n.-
1 physical or mental condition (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Medicinea condition where a part of your body or mind is damaged or does not work as it should.
a permanent or temporary loss or abnormality of a psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function.
ExampleThe school provides extra support for students with a visual impairment.
ExampleThe clinical assessment aimed to determine the extent of cognitive impairment resulting from the patient's recent head injury.
UsageOften used with 'visual', 'hearing', or 'cognitive'.
-
2 loss of financial value (n.) C1 Advanced Technical Formal Lawa reduction in the value of a company's asset because it is no longer worth what was originally paid.
a permanent reduction in the value of an asset to less than its carrying amount on a balance sheet.
ExampleThe company had to report a large impairment on its property after the market crashed.
ExampleFollowing the annual audit, the board recognised a significant impairment loss on the goodwill associated with the recent acquisition.
UsageCommonly appears in the phrase 'impairment loss'.
- write down
- depreciation
Show 1 more senseShow fewer
-
3 general weakening (n.) C1 Advanced Formalthe process of something becoming weaker or less effective.
the state or process of being diminished in quality, strength, or value.
ExampleThe impairment of the bridge's structure was caused by years of salt water damage.
ExampleThe report highlighted the gradual impairment of diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring states over the last decade.
From Middle English empeirement, empeyrement, emparement, from Anglo-Norman empairement, emperement, enpeirement, from Old French ampirement, anpirement, enperement, equivalent to impair + -ment.