What does maladroitness mean?
Maladroitness means clumsiness, especially the lack of physical coordination or dexterity shown while moving or performing a task. It can describe an awkward performance, an incompetent handling of an object, or a person's habitual lack of physical assurance. The tone is literary and often mildly humorous: saying that someone displayed maladroitness conveys a more vivid, ceremonious impression than simply calling the person clumsy. The related adjective is maladroit, as in "a maladroit violinist," while the adverb is maladroitly. Although maladroitness broadly corresponds to clumsiness, it can also suggest ineptitude more generally when used of someone's handling of a practical situation. It remains an uncommon word in ordinary conversation but can lend a formal or ironic flavor to descriptive writing.
nounClumsiness or a lack of physical skill and coordination, especially in movement or the performance of a task.
- Clumsiness or lack of physical skill and coordination, especially in movement or the performance of a task.
"Her maladroitness with a needle promptly drew blood from her finger."
"The dancer's maladroitness was obvious from the first few steps."
"His maladroitness with tools led to several minor accidents."
The plural is grammatically possible but rarely needed in ordinary use.
"The comedy of the scene rested on the protagonist's maladroitnesses with ordinary household objects."
The word ultimately describes someone whose hands, in the original French sense, were simply not deft.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of maladroitness
Maladroitness was formed in English from the French maladroit, meaning clumsy or unskilled. French maladroit literally conveys the idea of being badly or ill handled and was built from the negative prefix mal- and adroit, meaning skillful or deft. Both elements ultimately relate to dexterity, the ability to act skillfully and efficiently.
Related word forms
How maladroitness is actually used
Chiefly literary and sometimes humorous in tone. It is more emphatic and stylistically marked than the everyday word "clumsiness".
Easily confused with maladroitness
Maladroit is the adjective meaning clumsy or unskilled, whereas maladroitness names the clumsiness itself.