ill-equipped

American  

[il-i-kwipt] / ˈɪl ɪˈkwɪpt /

adjective

1. badly or inadequately equipped.

   an ill-equipped army.

2. ill-prepared.

   a student ill-equipped to begin calculus.

---

Etymology

Origin of ill-equipped

First recorded in 1955–60

---

Explanation

Someone or something that's ill-equipped isn't suited or prepared to do a certain task. If you faint at the sight of blood, you're probably ill-equipped to be a surgeon. Soldiers without weapons or armor are ill-equipped for battle, and if you don't have an umbrella or a raincoat, you're ill-equipped for walking to school in the pouring rain. You might also be emotionally or temperamentally ill-equipped. If you are afraid of heights, you are most likely ill-equipped to be a roofer. When someone's equipped, they have the proper equipment, and when you add the prefix ill-, it's clear they're lacking what they need.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ill-equipped

If so, it will inevitably bring huge social and humanitarian disruption which the stricken island is ill-equipped to cope with.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Much of the infrastructure was built in the years after World War II and is ill-equipped to meet the soaring power demands of the AI era.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

Unfortunately, clinicians are ill-equipped to predict who will need help.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

We’d have far fewer ill-equipped managers and unhappy employees if people were more honest with themselves about whether they have the desire or ability to empathize with others and invest in their career growth.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026

C.P. had toured their crumbling and ill-equipped schools.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• impotent
• inadequate
• incapable
• ineligible
• unable
• unprepared
• unqualified
• useless

---