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incapacitate
/ɪn.kəˈpæs.ɪ.teɪt/
to disable or make unable to function
The injury incapacitated him for months.
The injury made him unable to work or move normally for months.
formal
to make someone or something unable to work, move, or function normally
The stroke incapacitated the patient, leaving him unable to speak.
The stroke caused severe brain damage, making the patient unable to speak.
The new law would incapacitate small businesses by imposing heavy fines.
The new law would severely limit or destroy small businesses due to excessive fines.
Often used in medical, legal, or technical contexts to describe loss of function or capacity.
Collocations
incapacitate byto disable due to a specific causetemporarily incapacitateto disable for a limited timepermanently incapacitateto disable for an indefinite period
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'incapable'
'Incapacitate' is a verb meaning to disable someone or something, while 'incapable' is an adjective meaning unable to do something. Example: 'The storm incapacitated the power grid' (verb) vs. 'He is incapable of lying' (adjective).
Gold Rule
Use 'incapacitate' for loss of function, not inability
Do not use 'incapacitate' to describe someone who is simply unwilling or unskilled. It implies a physical or legal inability to function, not a personal choice.
Word Origin
From Latin *incapacitare*, meaning 'to make unfit' (*in-* 'not' + *capax* 'capable' + *-are* verbal suffix). First recorded in English in the late 16th century.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in formal or technical contexts, such as law (e.g., 'incapacitated witness'), medicine (e.g., 'incapacitating injury'), or engineering (e.g., 'incapacitated system'). Avoid using in casual conversation unless referring to serious situations.
Word Breakdown
in-
not
prefixcapacit-
capable
root-ate
to make
suffixEnglish Dictionary