incapacity

[ in-kuh-pas-i-tee ]

/ ˌɪn kəˈpæs ɪ ti /

lack of ability, qualification, or strength; incapability.

Law. lack of the legal power to act in a specified way or ways.

Origin of incapacity

From the Late Latin word incapācitās, dating back to 1605–15. See in-³, capacity

Will our incapacity to govern efficiently and effectively further weaken our image as a global leader?

Obama’s Nightmare: Reelected in 2012 but Republicans Take the Senate |Thomas E. Cronin |December 29, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
Part of this absence of empathy is an incapacity for self-examination.

Who Made Frank Rich God? |Lee Siegel |March 16, 2009 |DAILY BEAST
We may even say that these fits of incapacity and blank despondency are part of the cost of all creative work.

Adventures in Criticism |Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
The venerable holy men on either side have all Bellini's suave benignancy and incapacity for sin: celestial grandfathers.

A Wanderer in Venice |E.V. Lucas

The quality and incapacity of the fallen race is accurately described in Rom.

Satan |Lewis Sperry Chafer
The pessimist is further characterised by an incapacity for prolonged attention, a refractory attention and a feeble will.

Degeneracy |Eugene S. Talbot
Death swept away his sons, whose success in life might have balanced his own bad luck and incapacity.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction |Various

incapacity

/ (ˌɪnkəˈpæsɪtɪ) /

lack of power, strength, or capacity; inability

law