Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The character of being unfit, in any sense.

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

  • noun The characteristic of being unfit.

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

  • noun the quality of not being suitable
  • noun poor physical condition; being out of shape or out of condition (as from a life of ease and luxury)
  • noun lacking the power to perform

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The unfitness is in the soul and it's a taint and a disgrace.

    Rilla of Ingleside Lucy Maud 1921

  • He told Mr.. Thrale, without the smallest consciousness of presumption or what Mr. Square would term the unfitness of things, of his and

    Autobiography, Letters and Literary Remains of Mrs. Piozzi (Thrale) (2nd ed.) (2 vols.) Edited with notes and Introductory Account of her life and writings Hester Lynch Piozzi 1781

  • Given their non-military, hate the military status, presuming to attest to the "unfitness" of Republicans to be in office unless they are former military - the anti-American's chickenhawk taunt is sincere as their white asses going after Lt. Gov Steele, Lee Elder, Clarence Thomas as "not black enough".

    "They all hate Mitt." Ann Althouse 2008

  • Hugo's concept of fitness as a spiritual and social virtue cannot easily embrace the reality of the involuntary "unfitness" of those of us disabled folks who cannot ever expect to physically meet those fitness ideals without some seriously creative re-imagining of what "fitness" might be.

    May 1 -- BADD -- Fear, avoidance, and the people we never get to know Kay Olson 2007

  • Hugo's concept of fitness as a spiritual and social virtue cannot easily embrace the reality of the involuntary "unfitness" of those of us disabled folks who cannot ever expect to physically meet those fitness ideals without some seriously creative re-imagining of what "fitness" might be.

    Archive 2007-05-01 Kay Olson 2007

  • They came at a fitting moment, just as Americans had been handed a report providing the fullest disclosures so far about the multiculturalist zeal that had driven Army and medical school superiors to smooth Nidal Malik Hasan's rocky way through training, promote him, and, despite blatant evidence of his unfitness, raise not a single concern.

    Major Hasan, 'Star Officer' Dorothy Rabinowitz 2011

  • Whichever specific abomination proved the bees unfitness for survival doesn't matter.

    Ned Goldreyer: Requiem for a Bee Ned Goldreyer 2011

  • Whichever specific abomination proved the bees unfitness for survival doesn't matter.

    Ned Goldreyer: Requiem for a Bee Ned Goldreyer 2011

  • Then, worst of all, loyal subordinates “will not break his heart by telling him of his growing unfitness—they just try to make up for it.”

    Eisenhower 1956 David A. Nichols 2011

  • Cancer diagnoses in middle-aged men and women have soared by 20% in a generation as screening picks up more cases and smoking, drinking, obesity and unfitness continue to take a toll.

    Cancer diagnoses in 40-59 age group soar 20% in a generation 2011

Comments

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  • "And my own very apparent unfitness for the job, I was going to add; but you can't deny there's been bad luck to it, too. You know how unsuited I am to the work and how I hate it; and I've managed to fight along somehow."

    - Eugene O'Neill, 'Beyond The Horizon'.

    September 8, 2009