inanimate

American  

[in-an-uh-mit] / ɪnˈæn ə mɪt /

adjective

1. not animate; lifeless.

   Synonyms:

   dead, inert, mineral, vegetable, inorganic

2. spiritless; sluggish; dull.

   Synonyms:

   torpid, dormant, inactive

3. 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 (animate ).

---

inanimate British  

/ ɪnˌænɪˈmeɪʃən, 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

3. lacking vitality; spiritless; dull

---

Other Word Forms

• inanimately adverb
• inanimateness noun
• inanimation noun

Etymology

Origin of inanimate

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

Example Sentences

Rice cakes join a long list of inanimate objects that time-poor young Chinese have jokingly adopted for low-maintenance companionship in recent years, ranging from mango pits, to rocks, to cardboard dogs.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

He amassed around 3,000 inanimate objects, which he started collecting after his father’s death.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

Tom Ogden wrote an indie-pop anthem about the incident, then dedicated their fifth album to the unfortunate inanimate ape.

From BBC • Nov. 17, 2024

Hernández has also gotten his chance to dress up as inanimate objects or non-human characters, similar to other recent “SNL” breakout star Bowen Yang.

From Salon • Nov. 9, 2024

But throughout the mad dance of inanimate objects the continuity of Desdemona’s shifting body remains at center.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides