infirmity

Infirmity is a general term for weakness or disability in the body or mind. It encompasses a range of conditions from temporary illness to chronic diseases, as well as cognitive or sensory impairments. The word is used in medical, legal, religious, and literary contexts to describe diminished strength, vitality, or capacity.

Etymology: From Latin infirmus meaning “not strong,” via Old French infirmite and Middle English infirmite. Historically it carried both physical and moral senses, signaling feebleness or deficiency.

Common categories include physical infirmities such as chronic pain, arthritis, or paresis; sensory infirmities such as vision or hearing loss; cognitive infirmities including dementia or other forms of mental decline; and functional infirmities that limit daily activities. In aging populations, frailty is often described as a constellation of infirmities that increase vulnerability to health problems.

Legal and policy uses distinguish infirmity from disability; in many modern contexts “disability” or “chronic illness” terms are preferred for clarity. In medical documentation, infirmity may be used to describe a condition that affects a patient’s function, while care settings use infirmary to denote a facility for care and treatment.

Usage notes: While neutral in clinical contexts, infirmity can carry stigma if framed as moral weakness. Contemporary language tends to favor precise descriptions of the condition or its impact on function rather than a broad label.