inability
noun
in·abil·i·ty
ˌi-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
: lack of sufficient power, resources, or capacity
my inability to do math
Examples of inability in a Sentence
She has shown an inability to concentrate.
the inability of the government to cope with the problem
Recent Examples on the Web
The backstory Rife with rich cultural and economic history, South Caicos was once the hub of a flourishing salt trade that declined in the 1960s due to high costs and an inability to keep up with other markets.
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
Last season’s big problem was an inability to create anything explosive on special teams.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026
Encarnacion wasn’t charged with an error, but the inability to get the lead runner hurt.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026
And the questions about why these children are in these deep protests against contemporary life—refusing to go to school, refusing to eat—are inseparable from their inability to imagine a future.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inability
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
Last season’s big problem was an inability to create anything explosive on special teams.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026
Encarnacion wasn’t charged with an error, but the inability to get the lead runner hurt.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026
And the questions about why these children are in these deep protests against contemporary life—refusing to go to school, refusing to eat—are inseparable from their inability to imagine a future.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inability
Cite this Entry
“Inability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inability. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inability
noun
in·abil·i·ty
ˌin-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
: lack of ability, power, or means
his inability to carry a tune
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