incompetence

[ in-kom-pi-tuhns ]

noun

1. the quality or condition of being incompetent; lack of ability.
2. Law. the condition of lacking power to act with legal effectiveness.

Word History and Origins

Origin of incompetence¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from French incompétence (equivalent to in- negative prefix + compétence); variant of earlier incompetency; incompetent; -cy, -ence, -ency

Example Sentences

Montgomery is mentally deteriorating and we are seeking an opportunity to prove her incompetence.

From Washington Post

A 2019 series by The Post and Courier and ProPublica exposed how a flawed system of selection and oversight provided fertile ground for incompetence and corruption on the bench.

From ProPublica

I realize state unemployment agencies have been given a tall task, but that’s no excuse for the level of incompetence and unresponsiveness they’ve demonstrated in delivering congressionally approved unemployment benefits.

From ProPublica

The reasons included not only incompetence but corruption too.

From Fortune

The men are still able to plead incompetence, if nothing else.

From Washington Post

And their suspicions make them see betrayal at every turn, even when incompetence may be the cause of a particular problem.

From The Daily Beast

And they suggest something worse than incompetence is at work there.

From The Daily Beast

And a successful two-term Governor of a state where the balloting incompetence and idiocy is absolutely vital to the GOP.

From The Daily Beast

That and incompetence at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital may have caused the deadly disease to spread.

From The Daily Beast

Watching this incompetence is infuriating, and the view security cameras show from inside the mall is horrific.

From The Daily Beast

Inexhaustibly kind to undeserved misfortune, a little impatient of mere incompetence, implacable to continuous idiocy.

From Project Gutenberg

It was chiefly a question of incompetence, no doubt, but there was no consolation in admitting that.

From Project Gutenberg

One was the incompetence of the Irish people for local government.

From Project Gutenberg

But when a layman ventures to plunge deeply into legal subjects, he is naturally apt to make an exhibition of his incompetence.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of these losses were due to the utter incompetence of the higher command.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• inability
• ineptitude
• inexperience