Incompetence, Incompetency, n.
Etymology: [Cf. F. incompétence.]
1. The quality or state of being incompetent; want of physical, intellectual, or moral ability; insufficiency; inadequacy; as, the incompetency of a child hard labor, or of an idiot for intellectual efforts. "Some inherent incompetency." Gladstone.
2. (Law)
Want 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.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists incompetence only as an antonym, under power.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.
Synonyms
none given