incapacity

American  

[in-kuh-pas-i-tee] / ˌɪn kəˈpæs ɪ ti /

noun

1. lack of ability, qualification, or strength; incapability.

2. Law. lack of the legal power to act in a specified way or ways.

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incapacity British  

/ ˌɪnkəˈpæsɪtɪ /

noun

1. lack of power, strength, or capacity; inability

2. law

   1. legal disqualification or ineligibility

   2. a circumstance causing this

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Etymology

Origin of incapacity

From the Late Latin word incapācitās, dating back to 1605–15. See in- ³, capacity

Example Sentences

And most glaringly, while back in 2002 when Iain Duncan Smith visited Easterhouse, around a quarter of recipients of incapacity benefits were for mental or behavioural reasons; today, it's close to half.

From BBC

When clinicians blur the line between suffering and incapacity, accommodation loses its meaning, standards lose force, and those with genuine impairments are met with suspicion.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Replacement of the Chairman may occur only following voluntary resignation or as a result of incapacity,” it says.

From The Wall Street Journal

She suffered difficult pregnancies, physical illness and depression, often feeling exhausted to the point of incapacity.

From The Wall Street Journal

An important caveat: delusions six years ago and intermittent bouts of paranoia do not automatically indicate legal incapacity.

From MarketWatch