incompetence

noun

in·​com·​pe·​tence (ˌ)in-ˈkäm-pə-tən(t)s How to pronounce incompetence (audio)
: the state or fact of being incompetent

Examples of incompetence in a Sentence

Because of his incompetence, we won't make our deadline. She was fired for gross incompetence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Claims of incompetence may shield responsible parties from criminal charges but not civil penalties. U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2025 Defense attorney Alan Jackson told the jury the collision never happened, and the investigation into Read was riddled with errors, bias, incompetence and deceit from the start. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025 Just because there was no big red folder saying 'war plans' does not mean there was no classified information...and this excuse only serves to highlight the incompetence, immaturity, and lack of seriousness for one of the most serious positions in the US Government. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025 The first Trump administration’s sheer incompetence kept many of those kinds of closures at bay. Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for incompetence

Word History

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of incompetence was in 1663

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Incompetence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incompetence. Accessed 15 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

incompetence

noun
in·​com·​pe·​tence (ˈ)in-ˈkäm-pət-ən(t)s How to pronounce incompetence (audio)
: the quality, state, or fact of being incompetent

Medical Definition

incompetence

noun
in·​com·​pe·​tence (ˈ)in-ˈkäm-pət-ən(t)s How to pronounce incompetence (audio)
1
: lack of legal qualification
2
: inability of an organ or part to perform its function adequately
incompetence of an aortic valve

Legal Definition

incompetence

noun
in·​com·​pe·​tence in-ˈkäm-pə-təns How to pronounce incompetence (audio)
: the state or fact of being incompetent compare competency

More from Merriam-Webster on incompetence

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