English Lexicon

Incompatible

/ɪnˈkɒmpətəbl/
adjectiveCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
Full Thesaurus

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As adjective
  1. 1

    Not able to exist or work together without conflict.

    "The two software programs are incompatible, causing frequent crashes."
  2. 2

    Not suitable for use together.

    "Their lifestyles were incompatible, leading to frequent arguments."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'incompatible' originates from the Latin 'incompatibilis', which combines 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'compatibilis' meaning 'able to exist together'. The term evolved through Middle French before entering English in the late 15th century, reflecting a growing understanding of relationships and compatibility in various contexts.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Incompatible"?

Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Incompatible"

Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.

View "Incompatible" Synonym Map