ineptness
|in-ept-ness|
/ɪˈnɛptnəs/
not fit; lacking skill
Etymology
'ineptness' ultimately comes from Latin, specifically from 'ineptus', where the prefix 'in-' meant 'not' and 'aptus' meant 'fitted' or 'suitable'.
'ineptus' in Latin gave rise to the adjective 'inept' in English (via Late Latin/Old French influences) in the 16th century, and the noun 'ineptness' was formed later by adding the suffix '-ness' to create a noun indicating the state or quality.
Initially it meant 'not fitted' or 'unsuitable'; over time it came to be used more broadly for 'lack of skill or competence' and 'inappropriate conduct'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
lack of skill, ability, or competence; clumsiness in performing tasks.
His ineptness at fixing the machine caused a long delay.
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Noun 2
unsuitability or lack of appropriateness in behavior, judgment, or choice — i.e., doing something in an inappropriate or ill-considered way.
The politician's ineptness in answering questions harmed his credibility.
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Last updated: 2025/12/28 20:52