immortal

[ ih-mawr-tl ]

adjective

1. not mortal; not liable or subject to death; undying:

   our immortal souls.

2. remembered or celebrated through all time:

   the immortal words of Lincoln.

3. not liable to perish or decay; imperishable; everlasting.
4. perpetual; lasting; constant:

   an immortal enemy.

5. of or relating to immortal beings or immortality.
6. (of a laboratory-cultured cell line) capable of dividing indefinitely.

noun

1. an immortal being.
2. a person of enduring fame:

   Bach, Milton, El Greco, and other immortals.

   Synonyms: genius, titan, giant

3. the Immortals, the 40 members of the French Academy.
4. (often initial capital letter) any of the gods of classical mythology.

immortal

/ ɪˈmɔːtəl /

adjective

1. not subject to death or decay; having perpetual life
2. having everlasting fame; remembered throughout time
3. everlasting; perpetual; constant
4. of or relating to immortal beings or concepts

noun

1. an immortal being
2. often plural a person who is remembered enduringly, esp an author

   Dante is one of the immortals

Derived Forms

• ˌimmorˈtality, noun
• imˈmortally, adverb

Other Words From

• im·mortal·ly adverb
• quasi-im·mortal adjective
• quasi-im·mortal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of immortal¹

1325–75; Middle English (adj.) < Latin immortālis. See im- ², mortal

Example Sentences

So masterfully do we hide death, you would almost believe we are the first generation of immortals.

From Freakonomics

In the immortal words of Outkast, “the South got something to say.”

From Time

Scrooge has become such an immortal character because he somehow speaks to our worst and best selves.

From Vox

So even the most unchanging component of potentially immortal DNA is immersed in anitya, constantly refashioning itself.

From Nautilus

That he skipped old age to go straight to eternal cannot, and does not, surprise his fans, and yet the evidence that he was not immortal remains hard to digest.

From Quartz

Immortal "The love I have, for my music, for my husband, for my child, is something that will last far beyond my life."

From The Daily Beast

Many still speak of the deceased president with epitaphs such as “The Giant,” “The Immortal,” and “The Eternal Comandante.”

From The Daily Beast

And, of course, the immortal films of Joel and Ethan Coen, from The Big Lebowski to O Brother, Where Art Thou?

From The Daily Beast

Not only are they (effectively) immortal, but they can draw on their productive capacity to pay debts.

From The Daily Beast

It took you about a decade to research and write The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

From The Daily Beast

But it was neither his talents as a diplomatist, nor his remarkable mind, nor his solid erudition, which made Nicot immortal.

From Project Gutenberg

At this moment the strains of Arditi's immortal waltz, "Il Bacio," resounded through the place.

From Project Gutenberg

No lawgiver had ever been able to devise a perfect and immortal form of government.

From Project Gutenberg

Of all the great problems and precious interests which belong to me as a mortal or immortal being, science knows nothing.

From Project Gutenberg

Possibly their sole possessions consisted of the clothes they had on, a few bad pictures, and their several immortal geniuses.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• endless
• enduring
• eternal
• everlasting
• indestructible
• never-ending
• timeless