# inability

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌɪnəˈbɪlɪti/ · frequency rank #7,931

## Definitions
1. Lack of the ability to do something; incapability.
2. Lack of the option to do something; powerlessness.

## Etymology
From earlier inhability (“disqualification for office”), equivalent to in- + ability. Compare Middle French inhabilité, Medieval Latin inhabilitās.

## Easily confused with
- **instability** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inability-vs-instability)

## Common misspellings (13)
`ianbility`, `inabbility`, `inabiilty`, `inabilitty`, `inabilityy`, `inabiliyt`, `inabillity`, `inabiltiy`, `inabliity`, `inaiblity`, `inbaility`, `innability`, `niability`

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