unfit

American  

[uhn-fit] / ʌnˈfɪt /

adjective

1. not fit; not adapted or suited; unsuitable.

   He was unfit for his office.

   Synonyms:

   unapt, inappropriate

2. unqualified or incompetent.

   Synonyms:

   incapable

3. not physically fit or in due condition.

4. Biology. pertaining to an organism or population that is not adapted to prevailing conditions or is not producing offspring in sufficient numbers to maintain its contribution to the gene pool of the next generation.

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verb (used with object)

1. to render unfit or unsuitable; disqualify.

unfit British  

/ ʌnˈfɪt /

adjective

1. unqualified, incapable, or incompetent

   unfit for military service

2. unsuitable or inappropriate

   the ground was unfit for football

3. in poor physical condition

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Other Word Forms

• unfitness noun

Etymology

Origin of unfit

First recorded in 1535–45; un- ¹ + fit ¹

Example Sentences

Any documents the government deems potentially unfit for the public eye will go to Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee for further scrutiny.

From BBC

Suited as this world was to the great beasts, it was unfit for their eggs.

From Literature

Aberdeen announced the Pittodrie pitch had been deemed unfit for play at 16:23 GMT.

From BBC

The report was widely condemned, including by more than 85 U.S. scientists and experts who published a withering 459-page document denouncing it as biased, error-ridden and unfit for guiding policy.

From Los Angeles Times

Infantry units are full of older men unfit for arduous combat missions.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ill-equipped
• impotent
• inadequate
• incapable
• ineligible
• unable
• unprepared
• unqualified
• useless