inability

noun

in·​abil·​i·​ty ˌi-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce inability (audio)
: lack of sufficient power, resources, or capacity
his inability to do math

Examples of inability in a Sentence

She has shown an inability to concentrate. the inability of the government to cope with the problem
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But as the labor ministry’s inability to engage with shows, the state can do only so much. Ladan Anoushfar, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025 The issue was his lack of consistency and his inability to limit hard contact. Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025 Investors’ inability to trust official numbers — as a result of data falsifications and severe revisions — was a factor contributing to the Greek debt crisis in the early 2010s, which required multiple international bailouts and years of punishing economic reforms. J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2025 Taiwan Semi 's inability to hold gains after a stellar quarter and strong guidance is a sign of a possible short-term crest in the AI trade's ability to go up every day on similar news flow. Michael Santoli, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inability

Word History

Etymology

Middle English inhabilite disqualification, from Medieval Latin inhabilitas, from Latin in- + habilitas ability

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inability was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inability. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

inability

noun
in·​abil·​i·​ty ˌin-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce inability (audio)
: lack of ability, power, or means
his inability to carry a tune

More from Merriam-Webster on inability

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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