inability C1 Topic:Abstract Ideas US /ˌɪnəˈbɪlɪti/ See IPA manual Freq #16087 Meanings 1 noun The fact of not being able to do something. His inability to swim kept him out of the water all summer. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · the fact of not being able... unfitness More unability Word family Forms inabilities Appears in Phrases (1) See all constitutional inability an inability regarded as part of someone's basic physical or mental nature Adjective + noun Etymology AI details From earlier inhability (“disqualification for office”), equivalent to in- + ability. Compare Middle French inhabilité, Medieval Latin inhabilitās. Topics Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # inability **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˌɪnəˈbɪlɪti/ **Frequency rank:** 16087 ## Meanings 1. The fact of not being able to do something. ## Examples - His inability to swim kept him out of the water all summer. ## Synonyms - unability ## Etymology From earlier inhability (“disqualification for office”), equivalent to in- + ability. Compare Middle French inhabilité, Medieval Latin inhabilitās. ## AI Etymology Inability comes from earlier inhability (“disqualification for office”), equivalent to in- + ability. Compare Middle French inhabilité, Medieval Latin inhabilitās. In present use it covers the fact of not being able to do something. ## Topics - Abstract Ideas - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown