incapacity

I1N1C3A1P3A1C3I1T1Y4
/ˌɪnkəˈpæsɪti/

noun

The lack of a capacity; an inability.

Opposite
capacity
OriginEnglish capacity ← Middle English capacite ← Old French capacite →
Less commonScrabble 19
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Meanings

nounincapacity (countable and uncountable, plural incapacities)

plural incapacities

  1. countableuncountableThe lack of a capacity; an inability.

    So that it is not the insufficiency or incapacity of man's mind, but it is the remote standing or placing thereof that breedeth these mazes and incomprehensions;

    1605, Francis Bacon, “(please specify |book=1 or 2)”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC
  2. countableuncountableLegal disqualification.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounlack of intellectual power

Opposite
capacity
Broader
inability

nounlack of physical or natural qualifications

Opposite
capacity
Broader
incapabilityincapableness
Also see
disability

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Italic*n̥-
  4. Latinin-
  5. Middle Englishin-
  6. Englishin-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*kap-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*kapyéti
  9. Proto-Italic*kapjō
  10. Latincapiō
  11. Latincapāx
  12. Latincapācitās
  13. Old Frenchcapacite
  14. Middle Englishcapacite
  15. Englishcapacity
  16. Englishincapacity

From in- (“negative”) + capacity.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian некадърност, неспособност
  • некадърност (nekadărnost)lack of a capacity
  • неспособност (nesposobnost)lack of a capacity
  • неправоспособност (nepravosposobnost)legal disqualification
Catalan incapacitat
  • incapacitatlack of a capacity
Dutch onvermogen
  • onvermogenlack of a capacity
French incapacité
  • incapacitélack of a capacity
German Unfähigkeit
  • Unfähigkeitlack of a capacity
Hebrew נבצרות
  • נבצרות (nivtsarut)lack of a capacity
Hindi असमर्थता, अक्षमता
  • असमर्थता (asmarthatā)lack of a capacity
  • अक्षमता (akṣamtā)lack of a capacity
  • अपात्रता (apātratā)legal disqualification
Irish neamhábaltacht, neamhinneamh
  • neamhábaltachtlack of a capacity
  • neamhinneamhlack of a capacity
  • éagumaslack of a capacity
  • míchumaslack of a capacity
  • neamhacmhainnlack of a capacity
  • éagumaslegal disqualification
Italian incapacità
  • incapacitàlack of a capacity
Polish niezdolność, nieudolność
  • niezdolnośćlack of a capacity
  • nieudolnośćlack of a capacity
  • niezdatnośćlack of a capacity
  • nieumiejętnośćlack of a capacity
  • brak zdolności prawnejlegal disqualification
Portuguese incapacidade
  • incapacidadelack of a capacity
Russian неправомо́чность
  • неправомо́чность (nepravomóčnostʹ)legal disqualification
Spanish incapacidad
  • incapacidadlack of a capacity
Cite this entry
APA

incapacity. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/incapacity

MLA

“incapacity.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/incapacity. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “incapacity,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/incapacity.

Source: incapacity on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.