Inept
Lacking skill or ability; clumsy or ineffective in performing a task.
adjectiveInept
Lacking skill or ability; clumsy or ineffective in performing a task.
adjectiveImagine This
Imagine a student attempting to assemble a bookshelf. They misread the instructions, drop screws, and end up with a crooked, wobbly shelf that clearly shows their lack of skill.
Sounds Like
ih-NEPT
Looks Like
Looks like 'adept' with a negating prefix; visually similar to 'adept' but with 'in-' meaning not.
Remember This
Inept shares the same root as 'adept'—both come from the Latin aptus meaning fit; the negating prefix 'in-' turns 'apt' into 'not fit'. The noun forms are ineptitude and ineptness.
Other Forms
Connect With
adept; incompetent; bungling; awkward; clumsy
Note
Do not confuse inept with inapt. Inept describes a lack of skill or competence; inapt describes something that is inappropriate or unsuitable for a purpose.