Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Lacking qualities necessary for effective conduct or action.
  • adjective Inadequate for or unsuited to a particular purpose or application.
  • adjective Not functioning properly in the body.
  • adjective Not legally qualified, as testimony that does not meet the standards for admissibility or a juror whose personal interest in the outcome of the case does not allow him or her to serve.
  • adjective Lacking sufficient mental ability or awareness.
  • noun An incompetent person.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Not competent; wanting ability or qualification; unable; incapable; inadequate.
  • In law, not competent; not qualified; incapacitated.
  • Synonyms Insufficient, unfit, disqualified.
  • noun An incompetent person; one who is mentally or physically deficient.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Not competent; wanting in adequate strength, power, capacity, means, qualifications, or the like; incapable; unable; inadequate; unfit.
  • adjective (Law) Wanting the legal or constitutional qualifications; inadmissible
  • adjective Not lying within one's competency, capacity, or authorized power; not permissible.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Unskilled, lacking normally expected degree of ability, Northern Victorian Irrigation Renewal Project like see ombudsmans report.
  • adjective Unable to make rational decisions, insane or otherwise cognitively impaired.
  • noun A person who is incompetent.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective not qualified or suited for a purpose
  • adjective not doing a good job
  • adjective legally not qualified or sufficient
  • noun someone who is not competent to take effective action
  • adjective showing lack of skill or aptitude
  • adjective not meeting requirements

Etymologies

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Examples

  • SOHIL: (Foreign language spoken) LAWRENCE: Sohil, a 26-year-old student, says the rally is to condemn the American killing of civilians, as well as the U.S. support for what he calls the incompetent government of President Karzai.

    Free From Guantanamo, He Seeks Afghan Office 2010

  • SOHIL: (Foreign language spoken) LAWRENCE: Sohil, a 26-year-old student, says the rally is to condemn the American killing of civilians, as well as the U.S. support for what he calls the incompetent government of President Karzai.

    Free From Guantanamo, He Seeks Afghan Office 2010

  • This is in China, where they're having a problem with what they call incompetent drivers.

    CNN Transcript Jan 27, 2007 2007

  • AZASM vice-president Donald Mankga said his organisation was identifying schools employing what it termed incompetent white teachers, and said these teachers would be removed.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1995

  • Sohil, a 26-year-old student, says the rally sought to condemn the American killing of civilians and the U.S. support for what he calls the incompetent Karzai government.

    NPR Topics: News 2010

  • Sohil, a 26-year-old student, says the rally sought to condemn the American killing of civilians and the U.S. support for what he calls the incompetent Karzai government.

    NPR Topics: News 2010

  • Trump blames the problems on what he calls incompetent state bureaucrats and laments that had he been allowed to proceed, the facility would have been open by now.

    The Seattle Times 2010

  • Thousands of car drivers in the Ukrainian capital angrily blew their horns for several minutes Monday, protesting what they call incompetent and corrupt government policies that led to a devastating financial crisis.

    Dealbreaker 2009

  • Thousands of car drivers in the Ukrainian capital angrily blew their horns for several minutes Monday, protesting what they call incompetent and corrupt government policies that led to a devastating financial crisis.

    Dealbreaker 2009

  • Thousands of car drivers in the Ukrainian capital angrily blew their horns for several minutes Monday, protesting what they call incompetent and corrupt government policies that led to a devastating financial crisis.

    Dealbreaker 2009

Comments

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  • JM heard about an incompetent ship captain who grounds the warship he walks on.

    August 26, 2011

  • General Chang claimed Bones was this when he couldn't save Chancellor Gorkon.

    August 19, 2012