inability

inability
inability, disability are sometimes confused because of their verbal likeness. Although both denote a lack of ability to perform a given act or to follow a given trade or profession, they are otherwise clearly distinguished.
Inability implies lack of power to perform; it may suggest mental deficiency or tempermental unfitness, but more often it suggests a limiting factor (as lack of means, lack of health, or lack of training)
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an inability to laugh— Lucas

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an inability to seeHuxley

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the inability of the economic system to effect a cure— Hobson

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Disability implies the loss or the deprivation of such power (as by accident, illness, or disqualification); the term is applicable not only to the resulting inability but to whatever it is that makes one unable to do a certain thing or hold a certain office or position
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because of disabilities many of the soldiers could not return to their former occupations when the war ended

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if these people [American Indians] were not to be counted colored, with all the disabilities that designation involved— Handling

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one may be ineligible to office on account of some legal disability such as foreign birth

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Analogous words: incapability, incompetence, unqualifiedness (see corresponding adjectives at INCAPABLE): unfitness, unsuitability (see corresponding adjectives at UNFIT)
Antonyms: ability
Contrasted words: capacity, capability (see ABILITY)

New Dictionary of Synonyms. 2014.

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  • inability — I noun disability, disablement, disqualification, failure, helplessness, impotence, impuissance, inadequacy, incapability, incapacitation, incapacity, incompetence, incompetency, ineffectualness, inefficacy, inefficiency, ineptitude, ineptness,… …   Law dictionary

  • Inability — In a*bil i*ty, n. [Pref. in not + ability: cf. F. inhabilet[ e]. See {Able}, and cf. {Unable}.] The quality or state of being unable; lack of ability; lack of sufficient power, strength, resources, or capacity. [1913 Webster] It is not from an… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • inability — (n.) mid 15c., inhabilite, disqualification for office, from IN (Cf. in ) (1) + ABILITY (Cf. ability). Earlier was unability incapability; incompetence (late 14c.). General sense by c.1500 …   Etymology dictionary

  • inability — [n] disabling lack of talent, skill disqualification, failure, frailty, impotence, inadequacy, inaptitude, incapability, incapacitation, incapacity, incompetence, ineffectiveness, ineffectualness, inefficacy, inefficiency, ineptitude, ineptness,… …   New thesaurus

  • inability — ► NOUN ▪ the state of being unable to do something …   English terms dictionary

  • inability — [in΄ə bil′i tē] n. [ME inabilite: see IN 2 & ABILITY] the quality or state of being unable; lack of ability, capacity, means, or power …   English World dictionary

  • inability — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ apparent, seeming ▪ complete, total ▪ chronic ▪ the government s chronic inability to face facts ▪ …   Collocations dictionary

  • inability — n. inability to + inf. (her inability to pay caused trouble) * * * [ˌɪnə bɪlɪtɪ] inability to + inf. (her inability to pay caused trouble) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • inability — in|a|bil|i|ty [ˌınəˈbılıti] n [singular, U] the fact of being unable to do something inability to do sth ▪ Alcoholism can result in an inability to cope. ▪ the government s inability to enforce the ceasefire …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • inability — in|a|bil|i|ty [ ,ınə bıləti ] noun uncount * inability to do something the fact of not being able to do something: He was frustrated by his inability to control the ball. the stomach s inability to cope with certain foods …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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