incompatibilities
|in-com-pat-i-bil-i-ty|
🇺🇸
/ˌɪnkəmˌpætəˈbɪlɪti/
🇬🇧
/ˌɪnkɒmpəˈtɪbɪlɪti/
(incompatibility)
lack of harmony
Etymology
'incompatibility' originates from Latin, specifically built from the prefix 'in-' (meaning 'not') + 'compatibilis' (from Latin 'com-' meaning 'together' and a form related to 'pati' meaning 'to suffer, endure'), where the element 'com-' conveyed 'together' and the root related to 'pati' conveyed 'to endure or permit'.
'incompatibility' developed through Old/Middle French and Middle English forms (e.g. Old French/Latin-derived medieval forms like 'incompatibilite') and eventually became the modern English word 'incompatibility' by regular morphological formation (in- + compatibility).
Initially formed to express the idea 'not able to exist or be combined together,' and over time it has retained this core meaning but broadened to cover technical, social, and conceptual mismatches.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the state or condition of being incompatible; the quality of two or more things being unable to exist, work, or be used together without conflict.
The incompatibilities between the two software systems caused frequent crashes.
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Noun 2
specific points or instances where things are incompatible (often used in plural to list particular problems, differences, or conflicts — e.g., technical, interpersonal, or conceptual incompatibilities).
During the review they documented several incompatibilities that would need to be fixed before release.
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Last updated: 2026/01/11 10:58