To disable something means to make it stop working or to prevent it from functioning as it normally would. When you disable the alarm on your phone, you turn it off so it won't ring in the morning. When a computer security system disables a suspicious program, it stops that program from running and potentially causing harm.

The word often appears in technical contexts: you might disable notifications on an app, disable a feature in a video game, or disable cookies in your web browser. In each case, you're switching something off or making it inactive, though it could potentially be turned back on later.

Disable can also mean to cause a serious injury or condition that limits what someone can do physically or mentally. A severe accident might disable someone's ability to walk, or a stroke might disable someone's ability to speak clearly. When used this way, the word describes a significant, often lasting change in someone's abilities.

People with disabilities have conditions that affect how their bodies or minds work. Some disabilities are visible, like needing a wheelchair, while others are invisible, like dyslexia or hearing loss. Many people prefer terms like “disabled person” or “person with a disability,” depending on what feels right to them.