Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
incompetent - 8 dictionary results

in⋅com⋅pe⋅tent

  [in-kom-pi-tuhnt]
Use incompetent in a Sentence
–adjective
1. not competent; lacking qualification or ability; incapable: an incompetent candidate.
2. characterized by or showing incompetence: His incompetent acting ruined the play.
3. Law.
a. being unable or legally unqualified to perform specified acts or to be held legally responsible for such acts.
b. inadmissible, as evidence.
–noun
4. an incompetent person; a mentally deficient person.
5. Law. a person lacking power to act with legal effectiveness.
Origin:
1590–1600; < LL incompetent- (s. of incompetēns) unsuitable. See in- 3 , competent

Related forms:
in⋅com⋅pe⋅tent⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. unqualified, inadequate, unfit. See incapable.

Antonyms:
1. able, qualified.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To incompetent
in·com·pe·tent   (ĭn-kŏm'pĭ-tənt)   
adj.  
  1. Not qualified in legal terms: a defendant who was incompetent to stand trial.
  2. Inadequate for or unsuited to a particular purpose or application.
  3. Devoid of those qualities requisite for effective conduct or action.
n.  An incompetent person.
in·com'pe·tent·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Incompetent

In*com"pe*tent\, a. [L. incompetens: cf. F. incomp['e]tent. See In- not, and Competent.]

1. Not competent; wanting in adequate strength, power, capacity, means, qualifications, or the like; incapable; unable; inadequate; unfit.

Incompetent to perform the duties of the place. --Macaulay.

2. (Law) Wanting the legal or constitutional qualifications; inadmissible; as, a person professedly wanting in religious belief is an incompetent witness in a court of law or equity; incompetent evidence.

Richard III. had a resolution, out of hatred to his brethren, to disable their issues, upon false and incompetent pretexts, the one of attainder, the other of illegitimation. --Bacon.

3. Not lying within one's competency, capacity, or authorized power; not permissible.

Syn: Incapable; unable; inadequate; insufficient; inefficient; disqualified; unfit; improper.

Usage: Incompetent, Incapable. Incompetent is a relative term, denoting a want of the requisite qualifications for performing a given act, service, etc.; incapable is absolute in its meaning, denoting want of power, either natural or moral. We speak of a man as incompetent to a certain task, of an incompetent judge, etc. We say of an idiot that he is incapable of learning to read; and of a man distinguished for his honor, that he is incapable of a mean action.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : incompetent
Spanish: incompetente,
German: unzulänglich,
Japanese: 無能な
More Translations »

incompetent 
1611, "insufficient," from Fr. incompetent, from L.L. incompetentem, from in- "not" + L. competentem (see competent). Sense of "lacking qualification or ability" first recorded 1635.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

Main Entry: in·com·pe·tent
Pronunciation: in-'käm-p&-t&nt
Function: adjective
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 incompetent court> <incompetent evidence>
2 : unable or failing to perform adequately incompetent> incompetent attorney> —compare INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL

Main Entry: incompetent
Function: noun
: a person who is incompetent —compare INTERDICT
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source

Main Entry: in·com·pe·tent
Pronunciation: (')in-'käm-p&t-&nt
Function: adjective
1 : not legally qualified;especially : incapable due to a mental or physical condition
2 : unable to function properly <incompetent heart valves> —in·com·pe·tent·ly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source

incompetent in·com·pe·tent (ĭn-kŏm'pĭ-tənt)
adj.

  1. Inadequate for or unsuited to a particular purpose or application.
  2. Incapable of proper functioning.
  3. Not qualified in legal terms.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see incompetent on Thesaurus | Reference