inanimate

[ in-an-uh-mit ]
See synonyms for inanimate on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. not animate; lifeless.

  2. spiritless; sluggish; dull.

  1. Linguistics. belonging to a syntactic category or having a semantic feature that is characteristic of words denoting objects, concepts, and beings regarded as lacking perception and volition (opposed to animate).

Origin of inanimate

1
From the Late Latin word inanimātus, dating back to 1555–65. See in-3, animate

Other words for inanimate

Other words from inanimate

  • in·an·i·mate·ly, adverb
  • in·an·i·mate·ness, in·an·i·ma·tion [in-an-uh-mey-shuhn], /ɪnˌæn əˈmeɪ ʃən/, noun

Words Nearby inanimate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use inanimate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inanimate

inanimate

/ (ɪnˈænɪmɪt) /


adjective
  1. lacking the qualities or features of living beings; not animate: inanimate objects

  2. lacking any sign of life or consciousness; appearing dead

  1. lacking vitality; spiritless; dull

Derived forms of inanimate

  • inanimately, adverb
  • inanimateness or inanimation (ɪnˌænɪˈmeɪʃən), noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012