# disable

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɪsˈeɪbəl/ · frequency rank #14,513

## Definitions
1. To render unable; to take away an ability of, as by crippling.
2. To impair the physical or mental abilities of; to cause a serious, permanent injury.
3. To deactivate, to make inoperational (especially of a function of an electronic or mechanical device).

## Etymology
From dis- + able.

## Easily confused with
- **doable** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disable-vs-doable)
- **durable** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disable-vs-durable)
- **disabled** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disable-vs-disabled)
- **diablo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/diablo-vs-disable)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ddisable`, `diasble`, `disabble`, `disabel`, `disablle`, `disalbe`, `disbale`, `disible`, `dissable`, `dsiable`, `idsable`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/disable