inability

American

[in-uh-bil-i-tee] / ˌɪn əˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

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

his inability to make decisions.

Synonyms:

incompetence, impotence, incapacity, incapability

inability British

/ ˌɪnəˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

lack of ability or means; incapacity

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

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.

Chief among them is the seeming inability to absorb a blow and come back fighting.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Obviously, his inability to retain 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara was frustrating and ultimately devastating.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

He’s long resented her inability to contain the frenzy surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

Rousseau’s inability to speak French has come up in the past.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

He was angry at his inability to do anything about saving her.

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023