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.

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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

Yet many proved ill-equipped to recognize those forces when directed at Jews.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 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

The problem is that the governance structures in these companies are adolescent at best, ill-equipped to handle their rapid rate of revenue growth, their evolving business models, and their swiftly changing capital structures.

From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026

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

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

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