Inability

//ˌɪnəˈbɪlɪti// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Lack of the ability to do something; incapability. countable, uncountable

    "[…] tho' theſe ſeem'd to be very unfit Inſtruments for compaſſing of that great Deſign for which they were then employ'd, becauſe of their Inability and Uncapacity in performing the Work ſo very great and important; […]"

  2. 2
    lacking the power to perform wordnet
  3. 3
    Lack of the option to do something; powerlessness. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    lack of ability (especially mental ability) to do something wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
disabilitydisablementdisqualificationimbecilityimpossibilityinadeptness

Example

More examples

"The fact that educated Americans in general no longer share understandable background knowledge is a chief cause of their inability to communicate effectively."

Etymology

From earlier inhability (“disqualification for office”), equivalent to in- + ability. Compare Middle French inhabilité, Medieval Latin inhabilitās.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.