inability

[in-uh-bil-i-tee]

noun

1. lack of ability; lack of power, capacity, or means.

   his inability to make decisions.

   Synonyms: incompetence, impotence, incapacity, incapability

inability

/ ˌɪnəˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. lack of ability or means; incapacity

Word History and Origins

Origin of inability¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English inabilite, from Medieval Latin inhabilitās; equivalent to in- ³ + ability

Synonym Study

See disability.

Example Sentences

The inability of a century-plus-old industry to think like a tech start-up isn’t new.

Read more on Barron's

The inability of a century-plus-old industry to think like a tech start-up isn’t new.

Read more on Barron's

These results suggest that people’s inability to save what they want, more so than an inability to spend what they want, is impeding Americans’ financial happiness right now.

Read more on MarketWatch

These results suggest that people’s inability to save what they want, more so than an inability to spend what they want, is impeding Americans’ financial happiness right now.

Read more on MarketWatch

His inability to sit still was so disruptive that the provider said something had to change fast.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• failure 
• impotence 
• incompetence 
• inefficiency 
• ineptitude 
• lack 
• shortcoming 
• weakness