{ } n. [ Cf. F. incompétence. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. The quality or state of being incompetent; lack of physical, intellectual, or moral ability; lack of qualifications or training (for a particular task); insufficiency; inadequacy; as, the incompetency of a child for hard labor, or of an idiot for intellectual efforts. “Some inherent incompetency.” Gladstone. Syn. -- incompetence. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Law) Lack of competency or legal fitness; incapacity; disqualification, as of a person to be heard as a witness, or to act as a juror, or of a judge to try a cause. Syn. -- Inability; insufficiency; inadequacy; disqualification; incapability; unfitness. [ 1913 Webster ] Variants: Incompetence |