Definition of INEPT

1Having or showing no skill; clumsy

: lacking in fitness or aptitude : unfit <inept at sports>

2

: lacking sense or reason : foolish

3

: not suitable to the time, place, or occasion : inappropriate often to an absurd degree inept metaphor>

4

: generally incompetent : bungling <inept leadership>

— in·ept·ly\-ˈnep(t)-lē\ adverb

— in·ept·ness\-nəs\ noun

See inept defined for English-language learners »

Examples of INEPT

1. He was completely inept at sports.
2. He made an inept attempt to apologize.
3. Not only does the post have a narrow mandate, covering such sexy subjects as nuclear waste and solar energy, but the secretary presides over the most inept bureaucrats in the land. —Franklin Foer, New Republic, 3 July 2000
4. The real hackers have an understanding of technology at a basic level. … The rest are talentless poseurs and hangers-on, either completely inept or basic criminals. —Bruce Schneier, Secrets & Lies, 2000
5. To Cornelius, the White House travel office must have seemed—as it would have to any of the others who had served on the tight ship of the campaign's travel operation—an appallingly inept … operation. —Peter J. Boyer, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 1996