incompetent
adjective
in·com·pe·tent
(ˌ)in-ˈkäm-pə-tənt 
1
a
: lacking the qualities needed for effective action : lacking necessary ability or skills
b
: unable to function properly
incompetent heart valves
2
: not legally qualified
After hearing psychiatrist … witnesses … the court found Edwards incompetent to stand trial …—
Indiana v. Edwards, 554 U.S. 164 (2008)
Indiana v. Edwards, 554 U.S. 164 (2008)3
: inadequate to or unsuitable for a particular purpose
incompetent
noun
incompetently
adverb
Examples of incompetent in a Sentence
He is too incompetent to be trusted with such an important responsibility.
The patient is mentally incompetent.
The defendant was declared incompetent to stand trial.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dear remained in custody since the day of the shooting but was repeatedly found incompetent to stand trial.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
He was indicted on 68 counts in federal court, but was repeatedly found incompetent to stand trial, delaying his prosecution.
—Jessica Schladebeck, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
He had been repeatedly found incompetent to stand trial, stalling his prosecution for the attack in Colorado Springs.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Although Dear had been in state or federal custody since the 2015 attack and confessed to carrying out the mass shooting, he was never convicted because he was always considered to be too mentally ill to go through the court process — that is, he was consistently found incompetent to stand trial.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
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Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
He was indicted on 68 counts in federal court, but was repeatedly found incompetent to stand trial, delaying his prosecution.
—Jessica Schladebeck, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
He had been repeatedly found incompetent to stand trial, stalling his prosecution for the attack in Colorado Springs.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Although Dear had been in state or federal custody since the 2015 attack and confessed to carrying out the mass shooting, he was never convicted because he was always considered to be too mentally ill to go through the court process — that is, he was consistently found incompetent to stand trial.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
Cite this Entry
“Incompetent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incompetent. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
incompetent
adjective
in·com·pe·tent
(ˈ)in-ˈkäm-pət-ənt
1
: not legally qualified
especially
: incapable due to a mental or physical condition
2
: unable to function properly
incompetent heart valves
incompetently
adverb
Legal Definition
incompetent
1 of 2 adjective
in·com·pe·tent
in-ˈkäm-pə-tənt
1
: not legally qualified: as
a
: lacking legal capacity (as because of age or mental deficiency)
b
: incapable due to mental or physical condition compare competent
c
: lacking authority, power, or qualifications required by law
an incompetent court
incompetent evidence
2
: unable or failing to perform adequately
fired for being incompetent
an incompetent attorney
compare ineffective assistance of counsel
incompetent
2 of 2 noun
: a person who is incompetent compare interdict
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