different between inability vs impotence

English

Etymology

From earlier inhability (“disqualification for office”), equivalent to in- +? hability. Compare Middle French inhabilité, Medieval Latin inhabilit?s.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??n??b?l?ti/

Noun

inability (countable and uncountable, plural inabilities)

1. Lack of the ability to do something; incapability.
   • 2013, Daniel Taylor, Jack Wilshere scores twice to ease Arsenal to victory over Marseille (in The Guardian, 26 November 2013)[1]

     The Premier League leaders did what many people thought was beyond them in their last European excursion, at the home of Borussia Dortmund, and they made light work of overcoming Marseille on a night when the one-sidedness was not reflected by their inability to add to Jack Wilshere's two goals.

2. Lack of the option to do something; powerlessness.

Synonyms

• unability

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• impotency

Etymology

From Middle French impotence, from Latin impotentia

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??mp?t?ns/

Noun

impotence (usually uncountable, plural impotences)

1. Powerlessness; incapacity.
2. Inability to copulate or beget children; sterility, erectile dysfunction, etc.

Related terms

• impotent

Translations

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [??mpot?nt?s?]
• Rhymes: -?nts?

Noun

impotence f

1. impotence (inability to copulate or beget children)

Related terms

• See potence

Further reading

• impotence in P?íru?ní slovník jazyka ?eského, 1935–1957
• impotence in Slovník spisovného jazyka ?eského, 1960–1971, 1989

French

Noun

impotence f (plural impotences)

1. powerlessness