incapacity

[ in-kuh-pas-i-tee ]

/ ˌɪn kəˈpæs ɪ ti /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR incapacity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

lack of ability, qualification, or strength; incapability.

Law. lack of the legal power to act in a specified way or ways.

Nearby words

Origin of incapacity

From the Late Latin word incapācitās, dating back to 1605–15. See in-³, capacity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for incapacity

Will our incapacity to govern efficiently and effectively further weaken our image as a global leader?
Obama’s Nightmare: Reelected in 2012 but Republicans Take the Senate|Thomas E. Cronin|December 29, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Part of this absence of empathy is an incapacity for self-examination.
Who Made Frank Rich God?|Lee Siegel|March 16, 2009|DAILY BEAST
We may even say that these fits of incapacity and blank despondency are part of the cost of all creative work.
Adventures in Criticism|Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
The venerable holy men on either side have all Bellini's suave benignancy and incapacity for sin: celestial grandfathers.
A Wanderer in Venice|E.V. Lucas

The quality and incapacity of the fallen race is accurately described in Rom.
Satan|Lewis Sperry Chafer
The pessimist is further characterised by an incapacity for prolonged attention, a refractory attention and a feeble will.
Degeneracy|Eugene S. Talbot
Death swept away his sons, whose success in life might have balanced his own bad luck and incapacity.
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction|Various

British Dictionary definitions for incapacity

incapacity

/ (ˌɪnkəˈpæsɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

lack of power, strength, or capacity; inability

law

legal disqualification or ineligibility
a circumstance causing this

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

Word Origin and History for incapacity

incapacity

1610s, from French incapacité (16c.), from Medieval Latin incapacitatem (nominative incapacitas), from Late Latin incapax (genitive incapacis) "incapable," from in- "not" (see in- (1)) + Latin capax "capable," literally "able to hold much," from capere "to take" (see capable). Often used 17c. as a legal term referring to inability to take, receive, or deal with in some way.

incapacity

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of incapacity

Examples from the Web for incapacity

incapacity

noun plural -ties

incapacity