immanent

[im-uh-nuhnt]

adjective

1. remaining within; indwelling; inherent.

   Synonyms: intrinsic, inborn, innate
   Antonyms: superimposed, extrinsic

2. Philosophy.,  (of a mental act) taking place within the mind of the subject and having no effect outside of it.

3. Theology.,  (of the Deity) indwelling the universe, time, etc.

immanent

/ ˈɪmənənt /

adjective

1. existing, operating, or remaining within; inherent

2. of or relating to the pantheistic conception of God, as being present throughout the universe Compare transcendent

Other Word Forms

• immanence noun
• immanency noun
• immanently adverb
• nonimmanent adjective
• nonimmanently adverb
• unimmanent adjective
• unimmanently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of immanent¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Late Latin immanent- (stem of immanēns ), present participle of immanēre “to stay in,” equivalent to im- “in” ( im- ¹ ) + man(ēre) “to stay” + -ent- adjective suffix ( -ent ); remain

Word History and Origins

Origin of immanent¹

C16: from Latin immanēre to remain in, from _im- (in) + manēre to stay

Example Sentences

Nonetheless, they worked within the existing social and political structure to bore new lines of flight out of it through a process of immanent critique.

From Salon

Even our Sinophobes fall prey to this delusion, in the sense that building that country up into an immanent and existential threat paradoxically gives the Chinese system more credit than it deserves.

From Salon

Blackness in abstraction, as the curator Adrienne Edwards has written, is a more capacious and immanent model of artistic creation than many of our institutions can handle.

From New York Times

God, however defined or understood, is immanent in all things, which is why we must look so directly at the world, even when the world indicts us for being terrible tenants.

From Washington Post

Still, Goodell’s deep moralistic streak is said to be genuine, and lately he has seemed to aspire to be more than just a functionary-enabler of the league’s most immanent moral ills, racism, misogyny and homophobia.

From Washington Post