Legal Definitions - disable

To disable means to make someone or something unable to function or perform effectively. In a legal context, it can also refer to the act of legally disqualifying an individual from exercising certain rights, powers, or capabilities.

• Example 1: After a severe car accident, a professional musician suffered nerve damage in her hand, which permanently disabled her from playing her instrument at a professional level.

  Explanation: Here, "disable" refers to the physical injury that rendered the musician incapable of performing her professional function, illustrating the sense of depriving someone of the ability to function effectively.

• Example 2: A major software bug caused the company's online ordering system to completely disable itself, preventing customers from placing new orders for an entire day.

  Explanation: In this scenario, "disable" describes how a technical flaw rendered a system inoperable, preventing it from performing its intended function.

• Example 3: Following a conviction for insider trading, the regulatory body moved to disable the former stockbroker from holding any financial licenses or working in the securities industry for a period of five years.

  Explanation: This example illustrates the legal sense of "disable," where a formal action legally disqualifies an individual from exercising specific professional capabilities or rights due to their misconduct.