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

But this is the first time in recent memory in which the will of the majority feels both irrelevant and totally impotent. —Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026

Adding Venezuela — not a major producer today, but one with the potential to raise output by 2 million to 3 million barrels a day within a decade — would give the US the power to make OPEC+’s supply interventions impotent. —Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 6 Jan. 2026

More play low in the zone and extended cycles, as well as well offensive contributions from defensemen, unlocked levels for what had been an impotent offense. —Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 28 Dec. 2025

Historically, Luddites were 19th-century textile workers who eschewed new machinery (partially for financial reasons), thus becoming symbolic of impotent resistance to progress. —Sloane Crosley, Wired News, 18 Dec. 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