Word
incompetence
Phoneticsin·com·pe·tence, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈkɑmpətəns/
UK/ɪnkˈɒmpɪtəns/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a lack of the skills or knowledge needed to do a job well. You use this to describe when someone fails because they are not good at what they do.
n. the inability to perform a task or job to a required standard due to a lack of skill, knowledge, or ability. Frequently used in professional or administrative contexts to describe systemic or individual failure.
Examples
“The manager was fired for total incompetence.”
“The project failed not because of a lack of funding, but because of the sheer incompetence of the leadership team.”
“While minor errors are expected in any large organization, the systemic incompetence displayed during the crisis suggested a fundamental breakdown in the company's training protocols.”
Examples
simple
“The manager was fired for total incompetence.”
contextual
“The project failed not because of a lack of funding, but because of the sheer incompetence of the leadership team.”
complex
“While minor errors are expected in any large organization, the systemic incompetence displayed during the crisis suggested a fundamental breakdown in the company's training protocols.”
Usage
Often paired with the preposition 'of' or 'in' ('incompetence in his duties').
Real-World Examples
“Mainly, though, because this is a story of mind-bending waste, real-time elite-level incompetence played out on a weekly basis.” “Sherbert asks : How do the same companies keep getting away with such shocking levels of customer service and incompetence?” Etymology
From French incompétence, equivalent to in- + competence.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/incompetence