incompatiblein‧com‧pat‧i‧ble /ˌɪnkəmˈpætəbəl◂/ ●○○ AWL adjective 
I don’t know why they ever got married. They’re totally incompatible.2two things that are incompatible cannot exist or be accepted togetherincompatible with Business interests are incompatible with public office. Politeness and truth are often mutually incompatible.3two things that are incompatible are of different types and so cannot be used together OPP compatibleincompatible with The laser printer is incompatible with the new computer. incompatible blood groups—incompatibility /ˌɪnkəmpætəˈbɪləti/ noun [uncountable]: sexual incompatibility
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- After a week together on vacation it was clear that they were totally incompatible.
- After we got married, we realized we were completely incompatible.
- Diane and I are completely incompatible.
- My parents always seemed incompatible to me, but they stayed together for over 40 years.
- The centre gives advice to women who find the demands of marriage and work incompatible.
- These computers are incompatible with our present system.
- They've always seemed so incompatible - no wonder they're getting a divorce.
- We're completely incompatible - she's a neat freak, and I hate to clean.
- But it is not incompatible with science.
- For example, punishment may generate incompatible emotions.
- I am still left aghast at the astonishing numbers of totally incompatible cichlids that are sometimes crammed into remarkably small tanks.
- In addition, it explains various detailed observational facts which are incompatible with the older Newtonian scheme.
- In his own day the two kinds of profession were by no means incompatible.
- In the best of all possible worlds, community and individual growth are complementary goals, not incompatible ones.
- This would be incompatible with the tenure of life on Earth.
THESAURUS
not having the right qualities for a particular person, purpose, or situation: · These toys are not suitable for children under 3.· The job was considered unsuitable for women.· Some dogs end up in totally unsuitable homes.
not suitable for a particular situation or purpose – used especially about someone’s behaviour or language: · Slang is not appropriate in an academic essay.· Never reward inappropriate behaviour.· It would not be appropriate for us to comment at this stage.
not the right thing or person for a particular job or purpose: · You’re using the wrong spoon – this is the soup spoon.· She was simply the wrong person for the job.
[not before noun] not looking or seeming suitable for that place or situation: · The horse drawn carriage looks a little out of place among the busy traffic.· At first I felt a bit out of place.
two ideas or things that are incompatible cannot exist or be done together. Two people who are incompatible are unlikely to have a successful relationship, because they have very different characters, beliefs etc: · He considered the role of wife and mother to be incompatible with a career.· Why do totally incompatible people get married?
formal seeming strange and unsuitable, often in a humorous way, because of being unexpected in a particular situation or very different from its surroundings: · It seemed incongruous having a dance-band at the funeral.· He was dressed in a three-piece suit with an incongruous tie shaped like a fish.
an inconvenient place or time is not suitable and causes problems for you: · He always seems to call at inconvenient times.· The new station is inconvenient to pedestrians, because it is a long walk from the centre of town.
not suitable to be used for something, or not suitable to do something: · The boat is not only unfit to live in but is actually unsafe.· The meat was declared unfit for human consumption (=not suitable to eat).· He claims she is an unfit mother.· A jury decided Pryse-Jones was unfit to stand trial at court because of his mental illness.· The house was unfit for human habitation (=not suitable to live in).
Longman Language Activatorwhen different things do not mix well if two different kinds of behaviour or activity do not mix , you cannot successfully continue with both of them at the same time: · People having affairs at work often find that business and romance don't mix.do not mix with: · Heavy drinking does not mix with a successful family life.
if two things or people are incompatible , they cannot easily exist together, work together, or live together: · The centre gives advice to women who find the demands of marriage and work incompatible.· After we got married, we realized we were completely incompatible.incompatible with: · These computers are incompatible with our present system.
if two ideas, characteristics etc do not go well together , they do not mix easily or well: · In the experience of many European countries, socialism and religion do not go well together.
to have a bad relationship also not get on British if people do not get along or do not get on , they have a bad relationship and they often argue and disagree with each other: · Barney and I just don't get along.not get along with: · Troy doesn't get along with the coach, so he's thinking of quitting the team.· She never got on with her father and she hates her new stepmother.
also fall out British if friends or relatives have a falling-out or they fall out , they have an argument and stop being friendly with each other: · They fell out last year, and they won't even speak to each other now.· The three children had an enormous falling-out over their inheritance when their father died.have a falling-out with: · He's fallen out with his girlfriend again.· Daly had a falling-out with her boss, which led to her being fired.
people who are incompatible cannot have a good relationship with each other because they are completely different in their characters, interests etc: · We're completely incompatible - she's a neat freak, and I hate to clean.· They've always seemed so incompatible - no wonder they're getting a divorce.
if something drives a wedge between two people or groups, it has a bad effect on their relationship: · The war had driven a wedge between the President and his liberal supporters.· Romley's lawsuit drove the wedge even farther between the two former friends.
when two people are not suitable for each other two people who are incompatible are unable to form a long relationship with each other because they have very different characters, attitudes, interests etc: · After a week together on vacation it was clear that they were totally incompatible.· My parents always seemed incompatible to me, but they stayed together for over 40 years.
to not be the right type of person to form a relationship with someone else, especially a long or serious relationship: · Everyone told him that she was wrong for him, but he wouldn't listen.· I'll introduce you if you want, but I don't think he's really right for you.
informal to not be a suitable person to form a relationship or friendship with someone else because you have different attitudes, interests etc or because you are not attracted to someone with particular characteristics: · All he ever talks about is football - he's not really my type.· Denise was really nice, but physically she wasn't my type.
if two people are not suited , they are not suitable for each other because they have very different attitudes and characters: · I've never thought of going out with her - we're not really suited.not be suited to/for: · If two people aren't naturally suited to each other, there's no point in pursuing a relationship.
formal two people who are having a relationship who are ill-matched , have very different characters, interests etc and their relationship is likely to be very difficult or unsuccessful: · They were both strong, vital people, but they made an ill-matched couple.· Whenever you see them, they're always arguing - they seem very ill-matched.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Politeness and truth are often mutually incompatible.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
Politeness and truth are often mutually incompatible.· A parallel universe, mutually incompatible, like matter and anti-matter.· In a turbulent economy, the planning and control functions turned out to be mutually incompatible.· Although these types of theory are mutually incompatible, both regularly obtain empirical support in experiments by different researchers.
· Unity seemed to be an impossibility in 1910: men's and women's interests were apparently quite incompatible.
WORD FAMILYnouncompatibility ≠ incompatibilityadjectivecompatible ≠ incompatible
1two people who are incompatible have such different characters, beliefs etc that they cannot have a friendly relationship OPP compatible: I don’t know why they ever got married. They’re totally incompatible.2two things that are incompatible cannot exist or be accepted togetherincompatible with Business interests are incompatible with public office. Politeness and truth are often mutually incompatible.3two things that are incompatible are of different types and so cannot be used together OPP compatibleincompatible with The laser printer is incompatible with the new computer. incompatible blood groups—incompatibility /ˌɪnkəmpætəˈbɪləti/ noun [uncountable]: sexual incompatibility