Meaning & use
limited dexterity
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountablemedical
A condition in which a person has reduced ability to use their hands and fingers skillfully.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase; often after 'have' or 'with'.
Patterns
- have limited dexterity
- with limited dexterity
- suffer from limited dexterity
People with limited dexterity may find it hard to button a shirt.
The disease can cause limited dexterity in the fingers.
She uses special tools because of her limited dexterity.
Common combinations
- have limited dexterity
- After the stroke, he had limited dexterity in his right hand.
- limited dexterity in the hands
- Arthritis can cause limited dexterity in the hands.
- suffer from limited dexterity
- Many elderly people suffer from limited dexterity.
Synonyms and how they differ
- poor fine motor skills
- A broader term that includes coordination problems beyond just the hands.
- clumsiness
- An informal word for lack of coordination, not usually used in medical contexts.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: limited dexterity or dexterity?
limited dexterity vs dexterity
'Dexterity' alone means skill with the hands; 'limited dexterity' means that skill is reduced.
Practice
Choose the sentence where 'limited dexterity' is used correctly.
Choose one answer.
'Limited dexterity' affects hand movement, so using a special keyboard fits. The other options describe abilities unrelated to hand skills.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “limited dexterity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.