Incompetence

Origin

From French incompétence.

Full definition of incompetence

Noun

1. Inability to perform; lack of competence; ineptitude.
• 1851: Herman Melville,... at the head of a crew, too, chiefly made up of mongrel renegades, and castaways, and cannibals--morally enfeebled also, by the incompetence of mere unaided virtue or right-mindedness in Starbuck
• 1949: George Orwell,Winston did not know why Withers had been disgraced. Perhaps it was for corruption or incompetence. Perhaps Big Brother was merely getting rid of a too-popular subordinate.
• 1974: Ursula K. Leguin,The factory where she worked was a poisonous mass of incompetence, favoritism, and sabotage.

Related terms

• competency
• incompetency