Inability

  • 1inability — I noun disability, disablement, disqualification, failure, helplessness, impotence, impuissance, inadequacy, incapability, incapacitation, incapacity, incompetence, incompetency, ineffectualness, inefficacy, inefficiency, ineptitude, ineptness,… …

    Law dictionary

  • 2inability — inability, disability are sometimes confused because of their verbal likeness. Although both denote a lack of ability to perform a given act or to follow a given trade or profession, they are otherwise clearly distinguished. Inability implies… …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 3Inability — In a*bil i*ty, n. [Pref. in not + ability: cf. F. inhabilet[ e]. See {Able}, and cf. {Unable}.] The quality or state of being unable; lack of ability; lack of sufficient power, strength, resources, or capacity. [1913 Webster] It is not from an… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4inability — (n.) mid 15c., inhabilite, disqualification for office, from IN (Cf. in ) (1) + ABILITY (Cf. ability). Earlier was unability incapability; incompetence (late 14c.). General sense by c.1500 …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 5inability — [n] disabling lack of talent, skill disqualification, failure, frailty, impotence, inadequacy, inaptitude, incapability, incapacitation, incapacity, incompetence, ineffectiveness, ineffectualness, inefficacy, inefficiency, ineptitude, ineptness,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 6inability — ► NOUN ▪ the state of being unable to do something …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7inability — [in΄ə bil′i tē] n. [ME inabilite: see IN 2 & ABILITY] the quality or state of being unable; lack of ability, capacity, means, or power …

    English World dictionary

  • 8inability — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ apparent, seeming ▪ complete, total ▪ chronic ▪ the government s chronic inability to face facts ▪ …

    Collocations dictionary

  • 9inability — n. inability to + inf. (her inability to pay caused trouble) * * * [ˌɪnə bɪlɪtɪ] inability to + inf. (her inability to pay caused trouble) …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 10inability — in|a|bil|i|ty [ˌınəˈbılıti] n [singular, U] the fact of being unable to do something inability to do sth ▪ Alcoholism can result in an inability to cope. ▪ the government s inability to enforce the ceasefire …

    Dictionary of contemporary English