# inability

/ˌɪnəˈbɪɫɪti/ (US) · /ɪnɐbˈɪlətˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inability
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. lack of power or option

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the fact that you cannot do something because the situation or the law prevents you.

For teachers: the state of being prevented from acting due to external circumstances, legal constraints, or lack of authority.

- The manager expressed his inability to change the company policy.
- The department's inability to provide the requested documents was cited as a primary reason for the delay in the judicial review.

## Examples

- 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.

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