inability
Americannoun
noun
Related Words
See disability.
Etymology
Origin of inability
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English inabilite, from Medieval Latin inhabilitās; equivalent to in- 3 + ability
Explanation
An inability refers to lacking the capacity to do something. A deaf person has an inability to hear. If you know that abilities are things people can do — like the ability of a basketball player to dunk the ball — then you might already have figured out that an inability is something a person cannot do. Most people have an inability to dunk a basketball. People who eat too much have an inability to resist food. Often, this word refers to having mental limitations: an inability to think or figure something out. We all have different abilities and inabilities.
Vocabulary lists containing inability
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.
Due to the manner of management and my inability to be heard, I exited the LLC.
From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026
Does it speak of an overflow of creativity — or of an inability to edit?
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
But in parts of the country targeted by Ukrainian drones in recent weeks, Russia’s apparent inability to prevent such attacks is puzzling.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026
But an inability to meet that demand has become a concern.
From Barron's • May 7, 2026
His inability to straighten his knees all the way may have been the culprit, preventing him from locking his forelegs in the upright position.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions 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.
