incompatible

[in-kuh m-pat-uh-buh l] /ˌɪn kəmˈpæt ə bəl/
adjective
1.
not compatible; unable to exist together in harmony:
She asked for a divorce because they were utterly incompatible.
2.
contrary or opposed in character; discordant:
incompatible colors.
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 pertaining to biological substances that interfere with one another physiologically, as different types of blood in a transfusion.
7.
Pharmacology. of or pertaining to drugs that interfere with one another chemically or physiologically and therefore cannot be mixed or prescribed together.
noun
8.
Usually, incompatibles. incompatible persons or things.
9.
an incompatible drug or the like.
10.
incompatibles, Logic.
  1. two or more propositions that cannot be true simultaneously.
  2. two or more attributes that cannot simultaneously belong to the same object.
Origin
1555-65; < Medieval Latin incompatibilis. See in-3, compatible
Related forms
incompatibility, incompatibleness, noun
incompatibly, adverb
Synonyms
1. unsuitable, unsuited. See inconsistent. 1, 2. inharmonious. 2. contradictory.
Examples from the web for incompatible
  • IT sometimes seems that photographers and commercial publishers are incompatible species, destined endlessly to malign each other.
  • Yet democracies and dynasties are far from incompatible.
  • Males in captivity either show a serious lack of interest or are incompatible with the females and become aggressive.
  • Some think it incompatible with, even inimical to, scientific goals.
  • Not so fortunately, these technologies are varied and largely incompatible.
  • As for video, there has always been incompatible formats.
  • It might be incompatible with aging rubber compounds and some metals.
  • They are often called at times which are incompatible with the university standard course schedule.
  • There have been huge technology challenges, such as incompatible computer systems.
  • We've all griped at one time or another about our drawers full of ugly, mutually incompatible chargers.
British Dictionary definitions for incompatible

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.
(of plants)
  1. not capable of forming successful grafts
  2. incapable of fertilizing each other
7.
(maths) another word for inconsistent (sense 4)
noun
8.
(often pl) a person or thing that is incompatible with another
Derived Forms
incompatibility, incompatibleness, noun
incompatibly, adverb
Word Origin and History for incompatible
adj.

mid-15c., from Medieval Latin incompatibilis, from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + compatibilis (see compatible). Originally of benefices, "incapable of being held together;" sense of "mutually intolerant" is from 1590s. Related: Incompatibly.

incompatible in Medicine

incompatible in·com·pat·i·ble (ĭn'kəm-pāt'ə-bəl)
adj.

  1. Incapable of associating or blending or of being associated or blended because of disharmony, incongruity, or antagonism.

  2. Producing an undesirable effect when used in combination with a particular substance, as a medicine in combination with alcohol.

  3. Not suitable for combination or administration because of immunological differences, as blood types.

in'com·pat·i·bil'i·ty (ĭn'kəm-pāt'ə-bĭl'ĭ-tē) n.