incompetency

noun

in·​com·​pe·​ten·​cy (ˌ)in-ˈkäm-pə-tən(t)-sē How to pronounce incompetency (audio)

Examples of incompetency in a Sentence

the incompetency of the secretary was revealed only after she had left the company, and her successor discovered years of filing left undone
Recent Examples on the Web An effort to bolster the case for his incompetency? Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2024 Defendants come in and out, like a revolving door, only to have their case dismissed due to incompetency. Dan Daley, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2024 But county school boards can remove superintendents from office earlier for immorality, misconduct in office, insubordination, incompetency or willful neglect of duty, according to Maryland law. Nicole Asbury, Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2024 Instead, in a sequence indicative of the Dodgers’ offensive incompetency in these two games, both superstars failed to deliver. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2023 The General Investigating Committee is made up of five lawmakers who can look into complaints of misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, abuse of office, incompetency and workplace conduct by state officers and employees. Lauren McGaughy, Dallas News, 24 May 2023 Russia is so full of incompetency that the one person who emerged who was competent at military operations was Yevgeny Prigozhin. Yasmeen Serhan, Time, 27 June 2023 The United States’ incompetency, however, was soon exposed as its enormous military could not defeat local insurgents or keep up with Iran’s maneuverers inside of Iraq. Foreign Affairs, 24 Mar. 2023 The committee is made up of five lawmakers who can look into complaints of misconduct, including malfeasance, misfeasance, abuse of office, incompetency and workplace conduct by state officers and employees. Lauren McGaughy, Dallas News, 28 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incompetency.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of incompetency was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near incompetency

Cite this Entry

“Incompetency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incompetency. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

incompetency

noun
in·​com·​pe·​ten·​cy (ˈ)in-ˈkäm-pət-ən-sē How to pronounce incompetency (audio)
plural incompetencies

Medical Definition

incompetency

noun
in·​com·​pe·​ten·​cy -ən-sē How to pronounce incompetency (audio)
plural incompetencies

Legal Definition

incompetency

noun
in·​com·​pe·​ten·​cy in-ˈkäm-pə-tən-sē How to pronounce incompetency (audio)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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