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 see— Huxley

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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)