uncompetitive

adjective

un·​com·​pet·​i·​tive ˌən-kəm-ˈpe-tə-tiv How to pronounce uncompetitive (audio)
: not competitive : unable to compete
The only real alternative would be to protect those uncompetitive industries against foreign competition.Business Week
Greene took his latest Courageous to Australia for the current race, but he says he withdrew it when it proved uncompetitive against other boats backed by fatter treasuries.John Rousmaniere
uncompetitiveness noun

Examples of uncompetitive in a Sentence

As long as the school system keeps offering uncompetitive wages, people looking for jobs will apply elsewhere.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Populist Republicans congratulate themselves on cracking American democracy’s code by promising the public expensive new services and costly protectionist schemes that shield uncompetitive industries from the ravages of the market, all while reducing the tax burden on the majority of taxpayers. Noah Rothman, National Review, 27 Sep. 2024 The team projects to carry a payroll of less than $70 million in 2025, and is not expected to spend in free agency to fill the gaps apparent on their uncompetitive roster. Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024 Bidding is often uncompetitive simply because only one firm possess the necessary expertise. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 Digging into individual races, most seats in the House are uncompetitive, so the contests that will decide the House majority make up a very small proportion of the overall map. Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for uncompetitive 

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of uncompetitive was in 1885

Dictionary Entries Near uncompetitive

Cite this Entry

“Uncompetitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncompetitive. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

uncompetitive

adjective
un·​com·​pet·​i·​tive ˌən-kəm-ˈpet-ət-iv How to pronounce uncompetitive (audio)
: not competitive : unable to compete
uncompetitiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on uncompetitive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!