[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/incapacity/)

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# incapacity

noun (incapacity; uncountable)

«incapacity» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Not being able to do something, especially because of illness, injury or weakness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incapacity/#m1)
2. (law, money) Being unable to work because of illness or disability; some countries pay incapacity benefit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incapacity/#m2)

### In the lessons

In adult life and law it describes a person who cannot work or care for themselves. In formal writing it means lacking the ability: «an incapacity to listen». Phrases: incapacity to work, incapacity benefit, mental incapacity.

### Examples

- Grandad's incapacity after his fall meant he needed help at home. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incapacity/#x1)
- She received support during her incapacity to work. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incapacity/#x2)
- His incapacity to keep a secret got him into trouble. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incapacity/#x3)
- Long illness can lead to incapacity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incapacity/#x4)
- The law has rules for people with mental incapacity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incapacity/#x5)
- But at length they began to give over, from mere incapacity to hold any more. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incapacity/#x6)

### Note

Formal. Related: incapable (not able), incapacitate (to make someone unable), incapacitated. Opposite: capacity, ability.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «incapacity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incapacity/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«incapacity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/incapacity.html) on Mova free.