inability to

/ˌɪnəˈbɪləti tuː/
phraseIntermediate lack of ability or skill
general

a lack of skill, power, or capacity to do something

The team's inability to adapt to changes led to their failure.

They couldn't adjust their strategies, which caused them to lose.

Her inability to focus on tasks made studying difficult.

She had trouble concentrating, which affected her learning.

💡

This phrase is often used to describe a persistent or significant lack of ability.

Collocations

inability to communicatedifficulty expressing oneself clearlyinability to performfailure to execute a task successfully

Related Phrases

lack of abilityphrase
similar to 'inability to'
incapabilityword
another word for 'inability'

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

Use 'inability to' when describing a persistent or significant lack of ability in a specific area.

Gold Rule

Formal vs. Informal

This phrase is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but it is often used in formal writing and professional settings.

📖Word Origin

Derived from 'in-' (not) + 'ability' (capacity to do something) + 'to' (indicating the action).

📝Usage Notes

This phrase is commonly used in formal and informal contexts to describe a lack of skill or power in a specific area.

Word Breakdown

in-
not
prefix
+
ability
capacity to do something
root
+
to
indicating the action
preposition
English Dictionary