impotent

adjective

im·​po·​tent ˈim-pə-tənt 

1

a

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

an impotent political party

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 of impotent

• sterile
• barren

Examples of impotent in a Sentence

an impotent ruler who was just a figurehead

Recent Examples on the Web

Like the Rudy Giuliani mayoralty, but sort of impotent in ruthlessness, the Adams administration has loved to identify a scourge, an opportunity to conjure existential threats of social breakdown that the mayor’s office can then claim to heal. —Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2025

The New England Patriots withstood Garrett’s big day and one early push by the impotent Cleveland offense Sunday before pulling away in the second half for their fifth straight win. —Zac Jackson, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2025

Yet the Jets' offense was again impotent. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2025

To offset his impotent run game, McDaniels dialed up quick-hitters near the end of the first half to exploit open space underneath against a Buffalo defense playing a lot of two-high zone coverage. —Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Oct. 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