inert

[ in-urt, ih-nurt ]

adjective

1. having no inherent power of action, motion, or resistance ( active ):

   inert matter.

   Synonyms: motionless, lifeless, unmoving, immobile

2. Chemistry. having little or no ability to react, as nitrogen that occurs uncombined in the atmosphere.
3. Pharmacology. having no pharmacological action, as the excipient of a pill.
4. inactive or sluggish by habit or nature.

inert

/ ɪnˈɜːt /

adjective

1. having no inherent ability to move or to resist motion
2. inactive, lazy, or sluggish
3. having only a limited ability to react chemically; unreactive

inert

/ ĭn-ûrt′ /

1. Not chemically reactive.

Derived Forms

• inˈertly, adverb
• inˈertness, noun

Other Words From

• in·ertly adverb
• in·ertness noun
• nonin·ert adjective
• nonin·ertly adverb
• nonin·ertness noun
• unin·ert adjective
• unin·ertly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inert¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin inert- (stem of iners ) “unskillful,” equivalent to in- in- ³ + -ert-, combining form of art- (stem of ars ) “skill”; art ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of inert¹

C17: from Latin iners unskilled, from in- ¹+ ars skill; see art ¹

Synonym Study

See inactive.

Example Sentences

“It shows these carbon-fluorine bonds are not as inert as we thought.”

From Science Magazine

The US "non-persistent" mines differ from Russia's as they become inert after a pre-set period of time - anywhere from four hours to two weeks.

From BBC

In the nine years since the spill, the damaged pipeline was “evacuated, cleaned and preserved with inert nitrogen to maintain a corrosion-free state,” according to Steve Rusch, Sable’s vice president of environmental and regulatory affairs.

From Los Angeles Times

Gutierrez has maintained that she loaded Baldwin’s gun with what she believed were inert “dummy” rounds, unaware that a live bullet was in the chamber.

From Los Angeles Times

She studies how radioactive waste material can be made safe for extremely long-term storage, and is searching for the most stable, inert substance that nuclear waste could be "baked into".

From BBC

Related Words

• dormant
• immobile
• impotent
• inactive
• listless
• motionless
• paralyzed
• passive
• powerless