inexpert

[ in-eks-purt, in-ik-spurt ]

adjective

1. not expert; unskilled.

inexpert

/ ɪnˈɛkspɜːt /

adjective

1. not expert; unskilled or unskilful; inept

Derived Forms

• inˈexpertly, adverb
• inˈexpertness, noun

Other Words From

• in·expert·ly adverb
• in·expert·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inexpert¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word inexpertus. See in- ³, expert

Example Sentences

After some inexpert fumbling — ”I’m in the waste management business, everybody assumes you’re mobbed up, it’s a stereotype, and it’s offensive” — he offers her a classic parental half-truth: Some of his money comes from illegal gambling “and whatnot.”

From Los Angeles Times

Animal advocates are also concerned that these lions could be inbred as a result of poorly managed, inexpert breeding programs.

From National Geographic

Only with a limited operating area and near-perfect information is it possible to bring driving A.I. agents up to a level of safety and reliability that rivals even the most inexpert humans.

From Slate

That exposed a fact that the post-civil war triumphalism and lavish spending had papered over: He and his family were inexpert stewards of the government, especially on economic issues.

From New York Times

Worried: My inexpert observation is that often within a family system, the people who might benefit the most from therapy are the least likely to seek it, while those around them seek professional help for how to manage the challenges of the troubled relationship.

From Washington Post