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.

"She lives with blurry vision, ringing in her ears, pain in her joints and back, constant nausea, inability to eat."

From BBC

Woad though was frustrated at her inability to shoot a lower score after missing a series of makeable birdie putts.

From Barron's

As a group, you are experiencing decision paralysis —the inability to choose when presented with too many options.

From MarketWatch

For Belichick, they say, it's part love of the game, part love for coaching, and part an affliction that has ailed many great sports figures: an inability to know when to say goodbye.

From BBC

Just like the first time, the source of Celtic's problems was their remarkable inability to deal with deliveries into their box.

From BBC

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