Incompetency vs. Incompetence — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 31, 2023
Incompetency is a legal term denoting inability to manage affairs. Incompetence is a general lack of skill or ability.
Difference Between Incompetency and Incompetence
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Incompetency is often used in a legal context, referring to a person's lack of capacity to manage their own affairs. Incompetence, however, broadly denotes a lack of skill, knowledge, or ability in any context.
The term incompetency can imply a more permanent state, especially in legal terms, like being unable to make decisions due to mental incapacity. Incompetence often refers to a temporary or fixable lack of ability.
In a courtroom, incompetency might determine someone's ability to stand trial. In a workplace, incompetence might refer to an employee's failure to perform tasks adequately.
Incompetency often has more serious and long-lasting implications, possibly resulting in legal guardianship. Incompetence might lead to job training or termination, depending on the situation.
Both terms indicate an inability to perform adequately, but incompetency carries more legal weight, while incompetence is more common in everyday language.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Usage
Legal contexts.
General contexts.
Implication of State
Often implies a more permanent state.
Usually temporary or improvable.
Consequences
Legal guardianship, inability to stand trial.
Job training, termination, criticism.
Associated Fields
Law, medicine.
Employment, education, everyday skills.
Frequency of Use
Less frequent, more formal.
More common, used in everyday language.
Compare with Definitions
Incompetency
Medical condition impairing decision-making abilities.
The patient's incompetency was diagnosed by the psychiatrist.
Incompetence
Inability to meet necessary standards.
The project failed due to team incompetence.
Incompetency
Unfitness to stand trial in court.
The defendant's incompetency delayed the trial proceedings.
Incompetence
Unfitness for a particular role or job.
Her incompetence as a manager led to her dismissal.
Incompetency
Inability to manage personal affairs due to mental incapacity.
The court declared his incompetency due to his mental condition.
Incompetence
Inability to perform a task due to lack of skill.
His incompetence in coding was apparent.
Incompetency
Absence of legal or mental capacity to make decisions.
His incompetency to make financial decisions was evident.
Incompetence
Insufficiency in fulfilling requirements.
His incompetence in communication caused misunderstandings.
Incompetency
State of requiring legal guardianship.
Her incompetency led to the appointment of a legal guardian.
Incompetence
Term used to criticize someone’s abilities.
Her incompetence in handling the crisis was criticized.
Incompetency
Incompetence.
Incompetence
The quality or state of being incompetent.
Incompetency
The condition of being incompetent.
Incompetence
Inability to perform; lack of competence; ineptitude.
Incompetency
Lack of physical or intellectual ability or qualifications
Incompetence
The quality or state of being incompetent; lack of physical, intellectual, or moral ability; lack of qualifications or training (for a particular task); insufficiency; inadequacy; as, the incompetency of a child for hard labor, or of an idiot for intellectual efforts.
Incompetence
Lack 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.
Incompetence
Lack of physical or intellectual ability or qualifications
Incompetence
Inability of a part or organ to function properly
Common Curiosities
How is incompetence usually used?
Incompetence is used to describe a general lack of skill or ability in various contexts.
Is incompetence always negative?
Yes, incompetence generally carries a negative connotation, implying failure or inadequacy.
Does incompetency always involve legal matters?
Incompetency is most commonly used in legal contexts but can apply in medical or other serious scenarios.
What does incompetency primarily refer to?
Incompetency primarily refers to a legal state of being unable to manage one's affairs.
Can incompetency be temporary?
Incompetency, especially in legal terms, often implies a more permanent state.
Can someone improve their incompetence?
Yes, incompetence can often be improved with training or experience.
Can a company be called incompetent?
Yes, a company or organization can be described as incompetent if it fails to meet standards.
Does incompetency affect one's rights?
Yes, a declaration of incompetency can affect a person's rights, like voting or making contracts.
What kind of professionals might assess incompetency?
Legal professionals, psychologists, and medical doctors might assess incompetency.
Can incompetence be a subject of performance reviews?
Yes, incompetence is often addressed during performance reviews in a work context.
What might result from a finding of incompetency?
A finding of incompetency may result in legal guardianship or other protective measures.
Can training overcome incompetence?
Training can often help overcome incompetence by developing necessary skills.
Is incompetence a reason for job termination?
Yes, incompetence can be grounds for job termination if it affects performance.
Are incompetency and incompetence interchangeable?
No, they have different connotations and are used in different contexts.
Is incompetency always due to mental health issues?
Not always, but mental health issues are a common reason for legal declarations of incompetency.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
