Wordwyrt

ineptness

/ˌɪˈneptnɪs/ih-NEPT-nis
UK form converted from the US by rule · unchecked
/ˌɪˈnɛptnɪs/ih-NEPT-nis

Meaningthe state or quality of being improper, foolish

Common meaning: the state or quality of being inept

Tap a word part to explore

Journey through time

  1. Latinineptus‘improper, foolish’source
  2. Middle Frenchinepte‘unfit’source
  3. Englishinept‘lacking skill or competence’
  4. Englishformed in English from ineptineptness‘the state or quality of being inept’ · today

Sources & notes

Inferred source: no dictionary we use has an entry for this exact word. Its history is worked out from closely related, listed words in the same family, and we are trusting that link, so bear that in mind. Inferred meaning: the state or quality of being improper, foolish. It can be inferred from any of: inept.

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Formed in English from inept + -ness (inferred: this exact word is not listed in our dictionaries).

Source words

  • ineptus Latin · source word “improper, foolish”

Building blocks are an automatic split · open in app