unability

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌʌnəˈbɪləti/ UK /ˌʌnəˈbɪləti/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
lack of ability; inability

His unability to swim kept him at the shallow end of the pool.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · lack of ability; inability inability incapacity incapability powerlessness ineptitude

Opposites

ability capability capacity competence

Word family

Related forms ability able unable disability

Etymology

From un- ('not') + ability. Ability derives from Old French ablete, from Latin habilitas ('aptitude, fitness'), from habilis ('handy, apt'), from habere ('to have, hold').

un- Old English habilitas Latin habere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# unability

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌʌnəˈbɪləti/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌʌnəˈbɪləti/

## Meanings
1. lack of ability; inability

## Examples
- His unability to swim kept him at the shallow end of the pool.

## Synonyms
- inability
- incapacity
- incapability
- powerlessness
- ineptitude

## Antonyms
- ability
- capability
- capacity
- competence

## Related Forms
- ability
- able
- unable
- disability

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: un-
- Root: habilitas
- Root: habere

## Etymology
From un- ('not') + ability. Ability derives from Old French ablete, from Latin habilitas ('aptitude, fitness'), from habilis ('handy, apt'), from habere ('to have, hold').

## AI Etymology
Unability is from un- ('not') + ability. Ability derives from Old French ablete, from Latin habilitas ('aptitude, fitness'), from habilis ('handy, apt'), from habere ('to have, hold'). Important recorded forms include un- (Old English), habilitas (Latin), and habere (Latin). Morphologically, the un- element marks negation, reversal, removal, or deprivation, while the base supplies the action, quality, or state being denied or undone. The modern sense continues the older lexical line without requiring a separate origin. In current use it covers lack of ability; inability. The wider family includes related words such as ability, able, unable, and disability.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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