Word
incapacity
Phoneticsin·ca·pac·i·ty, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪnkəˈpæsəti/
UK/ɪnkəpˈæsɪti/
Countable & uncountable FormalLaw
Definition
n. the state of being unable to do something because of a physical or mental problem. It can also mean a lack of legal power to make a decision.
n. the state of being physically or mentally unable to perform a specific task; also refers to the legal inability to act or make decisions. Often used in medical, legal, or administrative contexts.
Examples
“The court ruled that the defendant was in a state of legal incapacity at the time of the contract, rendering the agreement void and unenforceable.”
Examples
complex
“The court ruled that the defendant was in a state of legal incapacity at the time of the contract, rendering the agreement void and unenforceable.”
Real-World Examples
“He was prescribed a long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication but after two months, Osman successfully challenged his incapacity to make treatment decisions, and by December 2017, stopped taking medication.” “It expresses the incapacity to accept the diversity of others, especially when their life choices diverge from our own," he said.” “In incapacity benefits, versus the comparison countries, Britain appears to have a low bar for access; a less rigorous application and assessment process; and much weaker work incentives.” Etymology
From in- (“negative”) + capacity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/incapacity