Origin: Latin suffix -ment
Impairment has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
the occurrence of a change for the worse
"The sudden impairment in his vision made it difficult to read the road signs."
a symptom of reduced quality or strength
"The athlete's leg impairment made it difficult to sprint at full speed during the race."
the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness
"reading disability"
"hearing impairment"
damage that results in a reduction of strength or quality
"The car accident caused severe impairment to the vehicle's structural integrity, making it unsafe to drive."
the act of making something futile and useless (as by routine)
"The monotony of his daily tasks led to a gradual impairment of his creative abilities, rendering them completely futile."
The result of being impaired
"The car crash was caused by severe impairment from alcohol consumption."
In plain English: An impairment is when something makes it hard for you to do what you normally can, such as moving your body or thinking clearly.
"The driver's vision was impaired by the heavy fog on the highway."
The word impairment comes from the Middle English term empeirement, which was borrowed from Anglo-Norman and Old French. It is formed by adding the suffix -ment to the verb impair, meaning "to weaken" or "injure."