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
Conducted by Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services, the audit was submitted to the Milwaukee County Mental Health Board and identified a series of failures in how the county manages civil commitments for individuals deemed incompetent under state law.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 20 Dec. 2025
The man accused of fatally shooting Robin Kaye, a longtime American Idol music supervisor, and her husband, the musician Thomas Deluca, inside their Los Angeles home last July, was declared incompetent to stand trial on Friday.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2025
According to the Gazette, Tamara was arrested and charged with suspicion of kidnapping and first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent person.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
On its face, the government's defense appears to be that the individuals behind these statements are ignorant or incompetent, or both.
—New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
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Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 20 Dec. 2025
The man accused of fatally shooting Robin Kaye, a longtime American Idol music supervisor, and her husband, the musician Thomas Deluca, inside their Los Angeles home last July, was declared incompetent to stand trial on Friday.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2025
According to the Gazette, Tamara was arrested and charged with suspicion of kidnapping and first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent person.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
On its face, the government's defense appears to be that the individuals behind these statements are ignorant or incompetent, or both.
—New York Times, 2 Dec. 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 31 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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