Incapacitation: meaning, definitions and examples

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incapacitation

 

[ ɪnkəˌpæsɪˈteɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

criminal justice system

The act of depriving a person of their ability to engage in certain activities, typically through imprisonment or institutionalization. Incapacitation is often used as a form of punishment or protection of society from dangerous individuals.

Synonyms

confinement, disablement, immobilization.

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Word Description / Examples
incapacitation

Used in legal or medical contexts where someone is made unable to perform their duties or activities due to a condition or injury.

  • The athlete's career ended due to incapacitation from a severe injury
  • The court ordered the incarceration and incapacitation of the criminal
immobilization

Used mainly in medical contexts where movement is restricted to aid in healing, or in tactical situations to prevent movement.

  • Immobilization of the broken bone will help it heal correctly
  • The police used a spike strip for the immobilization of the suspect's vehicle
disablement

Typically used in medical or legal contexts to denote a condition where a person is rendered unable or limited in their abilities, often with a focus on long-term or permanent effects.

  • Her disablement required her to use a wheelchair for mobility
  • The insurance company provided compensation for work-related disablement
confinement

Refers to being kept in a restricted space, often used in contexts like imprisonment or quarantine.

  • He faced three months of confinement for his crimes
  • The patient was in confinement to prevent the spread of the disease

Examples of usage

  • Incapacitation of violent offenders is one of the main goals of the criminal justice system.
  • Prisons are designed to ensure the incapacitation of criminals for the safety of the community.
Context #2 | Noun

psychology

A state of being incapacitated or unable to function normally due to physical or mental conditions. Incapacitation in psychology may refer to temporary or permanent loss of cognitive or physical abilities.

Synonyms

disability, impairment, inability.

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Word Description / Examples
incapacitation

Generally used in legal and medical contexts to describe a state where someone is unable to carry out their usual activities due to a specific condition or situation, often temporarily. It can have a slightly formal or technical tone.

  • The patient's incapacitation was due to a severe accident.
  • His incapacitation prevented him from performing his duties as CEO.
disability

Commonly used in social and medical settings to describe a long-term or permanent condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities. It is important not to use it in a way that conveys pity or negativity.

  • She has a physical disability that requires the use of a wheelchair.
  • The new policy aims to support employees with disabilities.
impairment

Typically used in medical and technical context to describe a loss of function or ability. It can refer to physical, mental, or sensory conditions and doesn't necessarily imply a complete inability.

  • He has a visual impairment that makes it difficult to read small print.
  • Hearing impairment can significantly affect communication skills.
inability

Used in general contexts to describe a lack of ability or capacity to do something. It can be temporary or permanent and is often used in a neutral or explanatory way.

  • Her inability to swim prevented her from participating in the water sports.
  • The project was delayed due to the team's inability to secure funding.

Examples of usage

  • The patient's incapacitation following the accident required long-term care.
  • Severe depression can lead to a state of emotional incapacitation.

Translations

Translations of the word "incapacitation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 incapacitação

🇮🇳 अशक्तता

🇩🇪 Unfähigkeit

🇮🇩 ketidakmampuan

🇺🇦 недієздатність

🇵🇱 niezdolność

🇯🇵 無能力

🇫🇷 incapacité

🇪🇸 incapacidad

🇹🇷 yetersizlik

🇰🇷 무능력

🇸🇦 عدم القدرة

🇨🇿 neschopnost

🇸🇰 neschopnosť

🇨🇳 无能力

🇸🇮 nezmožnost

🇮🇸 vanhæfni

🇰🇿 қабілетсіздік

🇬🇪 უუნაროობა

🇦🇿 qabiliyyətsizlik

🇲🇽 incapacidad

Etymology

The term 'incapacitation' originated from the Latin word 'incapacitare', which means 'to disable' or 'to render incapable'. The concept of incapacitation has been prevalent in various fields such as law, psychology, and sociology, where it is used to describe the state of being unable to perform certain actions or functions.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,661, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.