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

In hindsight, he said, the story of Rico, a teenager trying to measure up to the demands of fatherhood while being ill-equipped and lacking maturity to navigate the situation constructively, carried personal undertones.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Bateman: It’s also really compelling to watch characters jump into something that they’re ill-equipped for yet they think they can handle it.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

He claimed Dale was "ill-equipped" for the prison environment and more vulnerable than others.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

If you do end up with an ill-equipped manager, there are likely lessons to be learned from that experience, too, as you move to find a better fit elsewhere.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 30, 2025

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