inertia
2 synonyms and 0 antonyms for inertia, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — In physics, the tendency of an object to keep doing whatever it's already doing — staying still or moving in a straight line — unless a force acts on it.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use inertia
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin inertia, "lack of skill, inactivity," from iners — in- + ars, "skill." The physics sense was introduced by the astronomer Johannes Kepler.
Full origin of inertia →Frequently asked questions
What does “inertia” mean?
The word “inertia” means in physics, the tendency of an object to keep doing whatever it's already doing — staying still or moving in a straight line — unless a force acts on it. In plain terms, resistance to change — an object resisting a change in motion, or a person resisting getting off the sofa.
How do you pronounce “inertia”?
“Inertia” is pronounced ihn-UR-shuh (/ɪnˈɝ.ʃə/ in IPA).
How do you use “inertia” in a sentence?
Here is “inertia” used in a sentence: “Passengers lurch forward when a bus brakes suddenly because of inertia.”
What part of speech is “inertia”?
“Inertia” is a noun.
Where does the word “inertia” come from?
The word “inertia” comes from Latin. From Latin inertia, "lack of skill, inactivity," from iners — in- + ars, "skill." The physics sense was introduced by the astronomer Johannes Kepler.
Is “inertia” a common word?
“Inertia” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “inertia” have?
“Inertia” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in physics, the tendency of an object to keep doing whatever it's already doing — staying still or moving in a straight line — unless a force acts on it.