impotent

adjective

im·​po·​tent ˈim-pə-tənt 

1

a

: not potent : lacking in power, strength, or vigor : helpless

b

: unable to engage in sexual intercourse because of inability to have and maintain an erection

broadly : sterile

2

obsolete : incapable of self-restraint : ungovernable

impotent noun

impotently adverb

Did you know?

A police department may be impotent to stop the flow of drugs into a neighborhood. A group of countries may be impotent to force another country to change its human-rights policies. The impotence of a prime minister may be shown by her inability to get an important piece of legislation passed. Impotent and impotence may also have a special meaning, when they refer to a man's inability to have sexual intercourse.

Synonyms

• sterile
• barren

Examples of impotent in a Sentence

an impotent ruler who was just a figurehead

Recent Examples on the Web

This French film featured the sexiest woman in the world at that time, Brigitte Bardot, who appears in the nude and whose husband might be impotent. —Suzanne Jill Levine june 30, Literary Hub, 30 June 2025

The result continued a stretch of only one win in six across all competitions for a Miami team that began the funk looking impotent in attack, and has now resumed its 2024 habit of being wide open in defense. —Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

The trade immediately improved the Kings’ offense and rescued an impotent power play, helping win 17 of its final 22 games to place second in the Pacific Division, the best finish of Blake’s term as general manager. —Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025

Marching in demonstrations and appearing on news programs quickly came to feel impotent. —Annie Hylton, The New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin impotent-, impotens, from in- + potent-, potens potent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

impotent

adjective

im·​po·​tent ˈim-pət-ənt 

1

: lacking in power or strength

2

: incapable of engaging in sexual intercourse

also : sterile sense 1

—usually used of males

impotently adverb

Medical Definition

impotent

adjective

im·​po·​tent ˈim-pət-ənt 

1

: not potent

an impotent vaccine

2

: unable to engage in sexual intercourse because of inability to have and maintain an erection

broadly : sterile