incompetent
gb/ɪŋkˈɑmpətənt/ us/ɪŋkˈɑmpətənt/
B2
English
~ 9100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
not having enough ability or skill
Not able to do a job or task well because you do not have enough skill, knowledge, or care.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is incompetent at [doing something]; an incompetent [worker/doctor/manager]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "incompetent" with "incomplete". "Incompetent" describes a person or performance that is not good enough. "Incomplete" describes something that is not finished or not whole. Learners may also overuse "very incompetent"; in natural English, speakers more often say "totally incompetent" or "completely incompetent".
Synonyms
inept (Often suggests awkwardness or clumsiness, sometimes with a slightly humorous tone.)
|
unqualified (Focuses more on lacking the required training or certificates rather than general ability.)
|
incapable (Stronger; suggests someone simply cannot do something at all, not just that they do it badly.)
Antonyms
competent (The direct opposite; able to do something to an acceptable standard.)
|
capable (Stresses having the ability and skill to do something well.)
|
skilled (Highlights developed ability, often through training or experience.)
Collocations
totally incompetent
|grossly incompetent
|an incompetent manager
|incompetent at [something]
|incompetent performance
|prove incompetent
Themes
work
|evaluation
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The project failed because the team was led by an incompetent manager.
- I stopped going to that dentist after several incompetent treatments damaged my teeth.
- Their lawyers were so incompetent that they missed important deadlines in the case.
- He was clearly incompetent at handling customer complaints and often made the situation worse.
- The report accuses the agency of incompetent handling of the crisis.
Learner examples
- The company fired him because he was incompetent at his job.
- I do not want an incompetent doctor to treat me.
- She felt incompetent when she could not use the new computer system.
- The boss thinks our sales team is incompetent and needs more training.
Noun
B2
entity
2
person who is not competent
A person who cannot do their work or tasks well because they do not have enough skill or care.
Usage pattern:
an incompetent; a complete incompetent
Common mistake:
Learners may avoid using "an incompetent" as a noun and instead use only the adjective. In English, it is natural, especially in criticism, to say "He is an incompetent" meaning an incompetent person.
Synonyms
inept person (More descriptive phrase; slightly less harsh as an insult.)
|
bungler (Informal; suggests someone who often makes mistakes or spoils tasks through clumsiness.)
Antonyms
professional (Implied opposite in workplace contexts, suggesting someone who is capable and behaves correctly.)
|
expert (Stronger opposite, stressing very high skill, not just acceptable competence.)
Collocations
a complete incompetent
|a hopeless incompetent
|get rid of the incompetents
|promote an incompetent
|hire an incompetent
Themes
work
|evaluation
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The department is run by incompetents who have no idea what they are doing.
- Everyone knows he is an incompetent, but no one wants to confront him.
- They replaced the old incompetents with a younger, more dynamic team.
- Only an incompetent would have approved that design without testing it.
Learner examples
- They do not respect him because they think he is an incompetent.
- The company wants to remove incompetents from management roles.
- No one wants to work with an incompetent on an important project.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
not legally or mentally capable
In legal or medical language, not able to make important decisions or manage your life because of serious mental problems.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is mentally incompetent; [someone] found incompetent to stand trial
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this sense is just a stronger form of the everyday meaning "bad at something". In legal and medical use, "incompetent" has a specific technical meaning about mental ability and legal capacity, not just poor performance.
Synonyms
incapacitated (Legal/medical; broader term that can include physical inability as well as mental inability.)
|
unfit (Used in phrases like "unfit to stand trial"; focuses on not meeting the required condition or standard.)
Antonyms
competent (Legal/medical sense; having the mental ability and understanding to make decisions or stand trial.)
|
of sound mind (Legal phrase meaning mentally healthy enough to understand decisions and their effects.)
Collocations
mentally incompetent
|legally incompetent
|found incompetent to stand trial
|declare [someone] incompetent
|rule [someone] incompetent
Themes
law
|medicine
|mental_health
|health
Examples
- The court found the defendant mentally incompetent to stand trial and ordered psychiatric treatment.
- Her father was declared legally incompetent, so a guardian was appointed to manage his finances.
- At the time of signing the contract, the patient was judged incompetent and the document was later invalidated.
- The lawyer argued that his client was incompetent to make such a serious medical decision.
Learner examples
- The judge said the man was mentally incompetent and stopped the trial.
- The doctor wrote that the patient was incompetent to sign the form.
- Because she was legally incompetent, her son made decisions for her.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
4
person legally judged incompetent
In legal language, a person that a court says is not able to make important decisions or manage their own money or life because of mental problems.
Usage pattern:
declare [someone] an incompetent; act on behalf of an incompetent
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that this noun use is technical and mainly appears in legal or official texts. It is not normally used as a general insult in everyday conversation.
Synonyms
ward (Legal term for a person, often a minor or incompetent adult, under the protection of a guardian.)
Antonyms
competent adult (General legal opposite; an adult fully able to make their own decisions.)
Collocations
an adjudicated incompetent
|protect the incompetent
|guardian of an incompetent
|declare [someone] an incompetent
Themes
law
|mental_health
|health
Examples
- The court appointed his daughter as guardian of the incompetent.
- Funds belonging to an incompetent must be managed according to strict legal rules.
- Once he was classified as an incompetent, he could no longer sign legal documents on his own.
Learner examples
- The judge said the old man was an incompetent and needed a guardian.
- A lawyer helped the incompetent with his money and legal papers.
- The bank asked for proof that she was the legal guardian of the incompetent.
Grammar
Dictionary form
incompetent
IPA
GB/ɪŋkˈɑmpətənt/
US/ɪŋkˈɑmpətənt/
Syllables & stress
in - com - pet - ent (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (com)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: incompetent
Noun
- Base: incompetent
- Plural: incompetents
Word family
Forms
incompetents
noun
Core family
Related words
competently
adverb
Advanced or less common
competency
noun
Expressions
criminally incompetent
1/kɹˈɪmənəli ɪŋkˈɑmpətənt/
fixed phrase
informal
shockingly and irresponsibly incompetent
So incompetent that it seems shocking and very wrong, almost like a crime.
Examples
- Leaving those safety checks undone was criminally incompetent.
- Commentators called the agency’s handling of the disaster criminally incompetent.
found incompetent to stand trial
1/fˈaʊnd ɪŋkˈɑmpətənt tə stˈænd tɹˈaɪl/
fixed phrase
technical
officially not fit for trial
Said when a court decides that a person cannot understand a trial or help their lawyer, so the trial cannot continue.
Examples
- The defendant was found incompetent to stand trial after a psychiatric evaluation.
- If someone is found incompetent to stand trial, they are usually sent for treatment instead of going to court immediately.
grossly incompetent
1/ɡɹˈoʊsli ɪŋkˈɑmpətənt/
fixed phrase
extremely unable or unskilled
Very, very incompetent; doing your job or task in a very bad and unacceptable way.
Examples
- The investigation concluded that the response team was grossly incompetent.
- Many voters felt the minister had been grossly incompetent in handling the crisis.
legally incompetent
1/lˈiɡəli ɪŋkˈɑmpətənt/
fixed phrase
technical
not having legal decision power
Not having the legal right or ability to make important decisions, sign papers, or manage your money by yourself.
Examples
- She was declared legally incompetent after her dementia worsened.
- A person who is legally incompetent cannot sign a valid contract without a guardian.
mentally incompetent
1/mˈɛntəli ɪŋkˈɑmpətənt/
fixed phrase
technical
not having enough mental capacity
Not having enough mental ability to understand important decisions or what happens in a court.
Examples
- The suspect was found mentally incompetent and was sent to a psychiatric hospital instead of prison.
- If a person is mentally incompetent, a family member may have to make medical choices for them.