- past tense form of incapacitate.
- past participle of incapacitate.
incapacitated
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of incapacitated
First recorded in 1795–1805; incapacitate + -ed 2
Explanation
If you’ve been sick with the flu for a week, barely able to get out of bed, then you’ve got an idea of what it’s like to be incapacitated. Incapacitated means "empty of strength," "helpless," or "powerless." Incapacitated is an adjective that describes a state where you don’t have the capacity, or ability, to accomplish something. When someone becomes incapacitated, illness or injury is usually to blame. Incapacitated can also mean "ineligible." For instance, if you are too old to join the army, then your age makes you incapacitated from serving in the army.
Vocabulary lists containing incapacitated
Into the Wild
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Outliers
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Mockingjay
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In “Verity,” she plays the titular character, Verity Crawford, the author of a string of hit thriller novels who’s been mysteriously incapacitated after a car accident and can’t finish her final three books.
From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026
At least 19 states, including New York, have a higher bar for the level of intoxication required to deem someone incapacitated and unable to consent.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
Another topic of discussion for your attorney: a durable power of attorney, a legal power that remains in effect after the principal becomes incapacitated, allowing them to access their client’s bank account.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
Related: ‘We fear financial exploitation’: Who will manage our finances if my wife and I become incapacitated?
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026
If Gaea was that powerful, and she had an army of giants at her side, Percy didn’t see how seven demigods could stop her, especially when most of the gods were incapacitated.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
