inert
ihn-URT
Inert (adjective) means not moving or acting; lifeless or motionless. Example: “The patient lay inert on the stretcher, barely breathing.”
adjective
1
Not moving or acting; lifeless or motionless.
"The patient lay inert on the stretcher, barely breathing."
"After the anaesthetic, his body went completely inert."
2
In chemistry, not reacting readily with other substances.
"Argon is an inert gas often used to fill light bulbs."
How to use inert
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot doing anything — either not moving at all, or (for a chemical) not reacting with anything else.
Common pairings
inert gas
lie inert
chemically inert
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Word forms
- Plural
- inerts
- Third person singular
- inerts
- Past tense
- inerted
- Comparative
- more inert
- Superlative
- most inert
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The patient lay _____ on the stretcher, barely breathing.
Etymology
From French inerte, from Latin iners, "inactive, unskilled" — in- + ars, "skill."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “inert” mean?
The word “inert” means not moving or acting; lifeless or motionless. In plain terms, not doing anything — either not moving at all, or (for a chemical) not reacting with anything else.
How do you pronounce “inert”?
“Inert” is pronounced ihn-URT (/ɪnˈɝt/ in IPA).
How do you use “inert” in a sentence?
Here is “inert” used in a sentence: “The patient lay inert on the stretcher, barely breathing.”
What part of speech is “inert”?
“Inert” is an adjective.
Where does the word “inert” come from?
The word “inert” comes from Latin. From French inerte, from Latin iners, "inactive, unskilled" — in- + ars, "skill.".
Is “inert” a common word?
“Inert” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “inert” have?
“Inert” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not moving or acting; lifeless or motionless.
