# incompetent

/ˌɪnˈkɑmpətənt/ (US) · /ɪnkˈɒmpɪtənt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. unskilled or incapable

adjective · CEFR B2

not having the skills or ability to do a job or task well.

For teachers: lacking the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to perform a task or function successfully.

- The company fired the manager because he was incompetent and kept losing money.
- The investigation revealed that the project failed due to an incompetent leadership team that ignored several safety warnings.

### 2. legally unfit

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

not able to make good decisions for yourself because of a mental problem.

For teachers: lacking the legal or mental capacity to manage one's own affairs or to stand trial.

- The judge ruled that the man was mentally incompetent to sign the contract.
- The court appointed a legal guardian after the defendant was declared mentally incompetent to manage his own financial estate.

### 3. geology/medicine

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describing a part of the body or a layer of rock that is weak and changes shape easily.

For teachers: referring to a physical structure that fails to perform its function or lacks the strength to resist deformation.

- The doctor explained that an incompetent valve was causing the patient's heart problems.
- In this geological formation, the incompetent layers of shale folded much more easily than the surrounding sandstone under tectonic pressure.

### 4. an incapable person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person who is not good at their job or lacks necessary skills.

For teachers: a person who lacks the ability or qualities needed to perform a role effectively.

- I am tired of working with incompetents who never finish their work on time.
- The political satirist portrayed the entire cabinet as a group of bumbling incompetents who were out of touch with reality.

## Examples

- The incompetent manager lost the company a lot of money.
- The board of directors fired the CEO after a series of incompetent decisions led to a total market collapse.
- While the junior staff were eager to help, their incompetent handling of the delicate equipment resulted in several costly delays that the project could ill afford.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.