Inept
/ɪˈnɛpt/noun
Lacking skill, aptitude, or fitness for a task.
Did you know?Inept comes from Latin in- (“not”) + aptus (“fit, joined”), and its ancient root is the same one behind words like “apt,” “adapt,” and “coapt,” all built on the idea of things being properly fitted together.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ap-
“to fit, join, fasten”
Latin
Latin
aptus
“fit, suited, fastened”
Latin
Latin
ineptus
“unsuitable, unfit, absurd, foolish”
14th Century
English
inept
“lacking fitness or propriety; inappropriate”
Modern English
English
inept
“lacking skill, judgment, or competence”