inanimate

[ in-an-uh-mit ]
/ ɪnˈæn ə mɪt /

adjective

not animate; lifeless.
spiritless; sluggish; dull.
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

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

SYNONYMS FOR inanimate

1 inorganic, vegetable, mineral; inert, dead.
2 inactive, dormant, torpid.

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

inalterable, inamorata, inamorato, inane, inanga, inanimate, inanition, inanity, inapparent, inappeasable, inappellable

Example sentences from the Web for inanimation

  • It was an eighty-six years' smile—not the smile of inanimation, but of Christian courage and of Christian hope.

    The Wedding Ring |T. De Witt Talmage

  • Rest had turned to inanimation, quiet to dulness, peace to stagnation.

    Flint |Maud Wilder Goodwin

British Dictionary definitions for inanimation

inanimate
/ (ɪnˈænɪmɪt) /

adjective

lacking the qualities or features of living beings; not animate inanimate objects
lacking any sign of life or consciousness; appearing dead
lacking vitality; spiritless; dull

Derived forms of inanimate

inanimately, adverb inanimateness or inanimation (ɪnˌænɪˈmeɪʃən), noun

Medical definitions for inanimation

inanimate
[ ĭn-ăn′ə-mĭt ]

adj.

Not having the qualities associated with active, living organisms; not animate.

Other words from inanimate

in•an′i•mate•ness n.