incompatibility

noun

in·​com·​pat·​i·​bil·​i·​ty ˌin-kəm-ˌpa-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

plural incompatibilities

1

a

: the quality or state of being incompatible

b

: lack of interfertility between two plants

2

incompatibilities plural : mutually antagonistic things or qualities

Examples of incompatibility in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The tension in these tracks are the binding agent for Jane’s fan base — the music is full of contradictions and incompatibilities smashing together that just feel like being young right now. — Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026

Her recent work revives a dreamy Renaissance style to show its absurd incompatibility with the raging, petulant menaces in whom the world’s power is concentrated. — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026

Top traveler incompatibilities Traveling with someone is like going through a compatibility test. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 9 June 2026

This incompatibility has spurred a parallel machine economy where agents conduct millions of stablecoin payments via protocols like x402, effectively bypassing banks. — Marko Stokić, Forbes.com, 16 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for incompatibility

• communicability
• comprehensibility
• deliverability
• differentiability
• impenetrability
• impermeability
• impracticability
• inaccessibility
• inadmissibility
• inapplicability
• indestructibility
• indispensability

Kids Definition

incompatibility

noun

in·​com·​pat·​i·​bil·​i·​ty ˌin-kəm-ˌpat-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

plural incompatibilities

: the quality or state of being incompatible

Medical Definition

incompatibility

noun

in·​com·​pat·​i·​bil·​i·​ty ˌin-kəm-ˌpat-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

plural incompatibilities

: the quality or state of being incompatible

chemical incompatibility