inability
Americannoun
noun
Synonym Usage
See disability.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
“Hiring an unlicensed contractor is never a good deal, leaving you at risk of illegal down payments, fraud, unsafe construction and an inability to sell your home down the line,” said L.A.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 4, 2026
Another factor that gamers bring up about a digital-only gaming ecosystem is the impact on pricing, and the inability to resell games.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026
These include insufficient staffing, and the inability of staff to carry out basic and often mandatory training.
From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026
The first, crucial step was securing support for his appointment from elected politicians whose constituents are exasperated with inflation and the Fed’s apparent inability to date to explain what went wrong after 2021 and why.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026
I blamed Dad and his inability to cough up Mom’s car, but he exhibited no signs of guilt.
From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King
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.
