# impotent

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈɪm.pə.tənt/ · frequency rank #27,509

## Definitions
1. Lacking physical strength or vigor; weak
2. Lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless
3. Incapable of sexual intercourse, often because of an inability to achieve or sustain an erection, having impotentia coeundi.
4. Sterile
5. Lacking self-restraint

## Etymology
From Old French impotent, from Latin impotēns, from in- (expresses negation) + potēns (“powerful”).

## Easily confused with
- **important** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/important-vs-impotent)
- **impatient** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/impatient-vs-impotent)
- **impotence** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/impotence-vs-impotent)

## Common misspellings (12)
`immpotent`, `imoptent`, `impoetnt`, `impotennt`, `impotentt`, `impotetn`, `impotnet`, `impottent`, `imppotent`, `imptoent`, `ipmotent`, `mipotent`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/impotent