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

Now that these incompatibilities are harder to ignore, will the American collegiate project reinvent itself in a way that would resolve them? — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2026

Her incompatibility is expertly and efficiently illustrated in an immediate fallout with Gordon’s brash but lovable brother, Heavy (Justin Rosniak), who Ash gets along with swimmingly. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026

The emotional incompatibility of self-care Applebaum said that even those who can overcome the practical obstacles often still struggle to take care of themselves. — Elissa Strauss, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

The project was denied due to concerns about the county’s outdated rules, incompatibility with the area and concerns about noise and water usage. — Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 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