incompetence

or in·com·pe·ten·cy

[in-kom-pi-tuh ns or in-kom-pi-tuh n-see]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR incompetence ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the quality or condition of being incompetent; lack of ability.

Law. the condition of lacking power to act with legal effectiveness.

Origin of incompetence

1655–65; variant (with -ence for -ency) of earlier incompetency. See incompetent, -cy

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

Related Words for incompetency

lack, incapacity, shortcoming, inefficacy, inadequacy, weakness, inefficiency, disqualification, powerlessness, ineptitude, incompetence, failure, insufficiency, necessity, frailty, ineffectiveness, impotence, incapability, inaptitude, ineptness

Examples from the Web for incompetency

Historical Examples of incompetency

For all the grandeur of their names they rivalled one another in incompetency and timidity.
Bulgaria
Frank Fox
"Incompetency, if you want the brutal truth," Dudley broke in not unkindly.
The La Chance Mine Mystery
Susan Carleton Jones
General Toombs frequently referred to the incompetency of Mr. Davis.
Robert Toombs
Pleasant A. Stovall
Davis' incompetency is more apparent as our danger increases.
Robert Toombs
Pleasant A. Stovall
Furthermore, I said I would not stand for the discharge of any man for incompetency.
An Anarchist Woman
Hutchins Hapgood

Word Origin and History for incompetency

1610s; see incompetence.

incompetence

1660s, "inadequacy;" 1716, "want of skill," from French incompétence (mid-16c.), from in- "not, opposite of, without" (see in- (1)) + compétence (see competence). Native formation incompetency (from incompetent + -cy) is attested from 1610s.

incompetency in Medicine

incompetence

[ĭn-kŏm′pĭ-təns]

n.

The quality of being incompetent or incapable of performing a function, as the failure of the cardiac valves to close properly.

The condition of being not legally qualified, as to stand trial.

The inability to distinguish right from wrong or to manage one's affairs.