incompetency

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•com•pe•tent /ɪnˈkɑmpɪtənt/   adj. 

1. lacking qualification or ability;
   incapable:
   incompetent to do that work.
2. Law not legally qualified:
   incompetent to stand trial.

n. [countable]

3. an incompetent person, as one who is mentally deficient.

in•com•pe•tent•ly, adv. 

: For years the company was incompetently managed.

See -pet-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•com•pe•tent  (in kom′pi tənt), adj. 

1. not competent;
   lacking qualification or ability;
   incapable:
   an incompetent candidate.
2. characterized by or showing incompetence:
   His incompetent acting ruined the play.
3. Law
   • being unable or legally unqualified to perform specified acts or to be held legally responsible for such acts.
   • inadmissible, as evidence.

n. 

4. an incompetent person;
   a mentally deficient person.
5. Law a person lacking power to act with legal effectiveness.

• Late Latin incompetent- (stem of incompetēns) unsuitable. See in-³, competent
• 1590–1600

in•com′pe•tent•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. unqualified, inadequate, unfit. See incapable. 

Antonyms

• 1. able, qualified.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

incompetent / ɪnˈkɒmpɪtənt/ adjective

1. not possessing the necessary ability, skill, etc to do or carry out a task; incapable
2. marked by lack of ability, skill, etc
3. not legally qualified: an incompetent witness

noun

1. an incompetent person

inˈcompetence, inˈcompetency noun

inˈcompetently adverb