incompatible

[in-kuhm-pat-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. not compatible; unable to exist together in harmony.

   She asked for a divorce because they were utterly incompatible.

   Synonyms: inharmonious, unsuited, unsuitable

2. contrary or opposed in character; discordant.

   incompatible colors.

   Synonyms: contradictory, inharmonious

3. that cannot coexist or be conjoined.

4. Logic.

   1. (of two or more propositions) unable to be true simultaneously.

   2. (of two or more attributes of an object) unable to belong to the object simultaneously; inconsistent.

5. (of positions, functions, ranks, etc.) unable to be held simultaneously by one person.

6. Medicine/Medical.,  of or relating to biological substances that interfere with one another physiologically, as different types of blood in a transfusion.

7. Pharmacology.,  of or relating to drugs that interfere with one another chemically or physiologically and therefore cannot be mixed or prescribed together.

noun

1. Usually incompatibles. incompatible persons or things.

2. an incompatible drug or the like.

3. Logic.,  incompatibles,

   1. two or more propositions that cannot be true simultaneously.

   2. two or more attributes that cannot simultaneously belong to the same object.

incompatible

/ ˌɪnkəmˈpætəbəl /

adjective

1. incapable of living or existing together in peace or harmony; conflicting or antagonistic

2. opposed in nature or quality; inconsistent

3. (of an office, position, etc) only able to be held by one person at a time

4. med (esp of two drugs or two types of blood) incapable of being combined or used together; antagonistic

5. logic (of two propositions) unable to be both true at the same time

6. 1. not capable of forming successful grafts

   2. incapable of fertilizing each other

7. maths another word for inconsistent

noun

1. (often plural) a person or thing that is incompatible with another

Other Word Forms

• incompatibility noun
• incompatibleness noun
• incompatibly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of incompatible¹

From the Medieval Latin word incompatibilis, dating back to 1555–65. See in- ³, compatible

Synonym Study

See inconsistent.

Example Sentences

The frames of reference were, in retrospect, incompatible.

From Los Angeles Times

He highlights the resignation of top CDC officials in protest as a stark signal that Kennedy’s leadership is incompatible with the responsibilities of HHS.

From Salon

The answer might lead us to realize that the historic Southern California lifestyle is incompatible with fire resilience, especially as the risk of fires increases with a longer and more intense fire season.

From Los Angeles Times

They did so even though they acknowledged that “such gerrymandering is ‘incompatible with democratic principles’…”

From Salon

Such conduct is wholly incompatible with the standards of a fair, lawful, and credible investigation.

From BBC

Related Words

• conflicting 
• inappropriate 
• incongruous 
• inconsistent 
• irreconcilable 
• unsuitable 
• unsuited