inability
n. uncountablen. the fact of not being able to do something. You use this when you lack the skill, power, or chance to finish a task.
n. the state of being unable to perform a specific action or task. Often implies a lack of capacity, power, or means rather than a simple refusal.
His inability to drive makes commuting very difficult.
The company's failure was largely due to its inability to adapt to new digital technologies.
The witness's persistent inability to recall specific dates during the cross-examination eventually undermined the prosecution's timeline of events.
From earlier inhability (“disqualification for office”), equivalent to in- + ability. Compare Middle French inhabilité, Medieval Latin inhabilitās.
Typically followed by the 'to' infinitive ('inability to do something').
his inability of swimminghis inability to swimThe noun is followed by a 'to' infinitive, not the preposition 'of' with a gerund.