incompatible

adjective

in·​com·​pat·​i·​ble ˌin-kəm-ˈpa-tə-bəl 

1

: not compatible: such as

a

: incapable of association or harmonious coexistence

incompatible colors

b

: unsuitable for use together because of undesirable chemical or physiological effects

incompatible drugs

c

: not both true

incompatible propositions

d

: incapable of blending into a stable homogeneous mixture

2

: incapable of being held by one person at one time

—used of offices that make conflicting demands on the holder

incompatible noun

incompatibly

ˌin-kəm-ˈpa-tə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• clashing
• conflicting
• disagreeing
• discordant
• discrepant
• incongruous
• inconsistent
• inconsonant
• inharmonious
• mutually exclusive
• repugnant

Example Sentences

This printer is incompatible with some PCs.

the committee's incompatible goals—develop new projects and cut costs—meant that they got very little accomplished

Recent Examples on the Web

The New York Times suggesting that belief in evolution might be incompatible with the Catholic faith. —Rachel Donadio, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2022

Julia was stunned to hear trisomy 16 was incompatible with life. —Anna Clark, ProPublica, 6 Dec. 2022

People reported today that the couple have split up due to their busy and incompatible schedules. —Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 Nov. 2022

Some backers of Ukraine have power systems with elements that are incompatible with Ukraine’s, while other counties will be unlikely to part with their own spare parts. —Emily Rauhala, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2022

Much of the existing housing in Kivalina is incompatible with the Arctic climate and riddled with black mold. —Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2022

These two cases show that freedom and autonomy for animals are not incompatible with intelligent human stewardship. —Martha C. Nussbaum, The New York Review of Books, 17 Nov. 2022

But creating such devices has proved difficult, since current forms of memory are incompatible with the technology in processors. —Allison Whitten, Quanta Magazine, 10 Nov. 2022

In Dying for Time, the philosopher Martin Hägglund observes that these two positions are incompatible. —Ryan Ruby, Harper’s Magazine , 26 Oct. 2022

See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin incompatibilis, from Latin in- + Medieval Latin compatibilis compatible

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing incompatible

• self-incompatible

• self-incompatible

Kids Definition

incompatible

adjective

in·​com·​pat·​i·​ble ˌin-kəm-ˈpat-ə-bəl 

1

: not able to be brought together in harmony

their personalities were incompatible

incompatible colors

2

a

: not able to be used together

incompatible computer systems

b

: unsuitable for use together because of undesirable chemical or bodily effects

incompatible blood types

incompatibly

-blē 

adverb

Medical Definition

incompatible

adjective

in·​com·​pat·​i·​ble ˌin-kəm-ˈpat-ə-bəl 

1

: unsuitable for use together because of chemical interaction or antagonistic physiological effects

incompatible drugs

2

of blood or serum : unsuitable for use in a particular transfusion because of the presence of agglutinins that act against the recipient's red blood cells