uncoordinated

Uncoordinated is an adjective describing a lack of coordination or synchronization. It may refer to physical movement that is awkward or erroneous, as well as to actions, plans, or systems that fail to work together effectively. In everyday use, a person with uncoordinated movement may appear clumsy or unsteady, and the term can describe gait, hand–eye coordination, or rapid sequence tasks. Causes vary from transient factors such as fatigue, intoxication, or unfamiliar tasks to permanent neurological disorders that impair the cerebellum, proprioception, or motor pathways. In clinical settings, uncoordinated movement is often described as ataxia or dysmetria and can manifest as irregular steps, tremor, or dysdiadochokinesia.

In organizational or logistical contexts, uncoordinated actions refer to efforts that lack alignment across people, departments, or agencies. This can lead to duplicated work, gaps in coverage, conflicting goals, or resource inefficiencies. Common causes include poor communication, absence of shared objectives, siloed decision-making, and incompatible timelines or systems. Mitigation typically involves establishing clear roles and responsibilities, shared goals, standardized processes, and mechanisms for cross-team communication and coordination.

Related terms include disorganized, incoherent, and unsynchronized; the opposite is coordinated or synchronized. The term is used across disciplines, including medicine, engineering, management, and social planning.