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

Monique Tepe later filed for divorce, citing incompatibility in court documents. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026

Commissioners cited concerns about the building’s height, lack of community engagement and incompatibility with the neighborhood’s character. —Everton Bailey Jr, Dallas Morning News, 14 Jan. 2026

During that time, a range of mesh protocols and standards emerged, each claiming to be the solution—only to flame out or splinter into new incompatibilities. —IEEE Spectrum, 25 Dec. 2025

Kellerman explained that the core issue between him and Smith stemmed from fundamental incompatibility. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 4 Dec. 2025

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