ineptitude
Americannoun
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quality or condition of being inept.
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an inept act or remark.
Etymology
Origin of ineptitude
First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin ineptitūdō; inept, -i-, -tude
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.
Thirteen months on, resentment towards city and county authorities continues to bubble, with persistent claims of mismanagement and ineptitude.
From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026
He talked at odd speeds and was often shouting, as if sheer volume could make up for his ineptitude at taking real action.
From Salon • Dec. 19, 2025
"No last minute safeguarding updates can undo the harm caused by years of inaction and ineptitude," the statement continued.
From BBC • Dec. 2, 2025
They become just another dreary NFL team, muddling through sadness and ineptitude.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 6, 2025
Like many usage controversies, the brouhaha over like a cigarette should is a product of grammatical ineptitude and historical ignorance.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
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.
