Impotent
/ˈɪmpətənt/
Definitions
2 meaningsLacking power or strength; unable to take effective action; helpless.
/ˈɪmpətənt/
Lacking the power or ability to take effective action; helpless or weak.
The government's attempts to solve the problem proved impotent.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying to open a jar, and it's stuck tight. You can't do it! Impotent means you're like that jar lid - you can't do something you really want to do, because you don't have the power or ability.
👶 For kids: When you can't do something you want to do because you're not strong enough.
More Examples
He felt impotent in the face of such overwhelming grief.
The organization's protests were largely impotent.
How It's Used
"The law was shown to be impotent against the actions of the corporation."
"The medication can render a patient impotent."
"The country's military was considered impotent against the superior invading force."
In men, unable to achieve an erection.
/ˈɪmpətənt/
Unable to achieve an erection (in men).
He was told that the injury had made him impotent.
💡 Simply: Think of it like this: if a man can't do something important... if he is unable to have children... He is impotent.
👶 For kids: When a boy's body can't do something it should do during a time when growing up.
More Examples
The condition can lead to impotence.
Many men suffer from temporary impotence due to stress.
How It's Used
"The patient was diagnosed as impotent due to his medical condition."
From Latin impotens, meaning 'not powerful, weak', from in- 'not' + potens 'powerful'.
Historically, the word has been used both in political and medical contexts, with the medical sense gaining prominence in the modern era.
Memory tip
Imagine a powerful person suddenly losing their power; they become impotent.
Word Origin
"powerful, able"