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 (opposed to animate).

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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

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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

Explanation

Inanimate describes a non-living thing. Chairs, baseballs, sofa cushions and sadly, snowmen, are all inanimate objects. We can break inanimate down into two Latin roots: in, which means “not,” and animatus, which translates to “alive.” So inanimate means simply, "not alive." That include things that are recently dead, things that were never alive to begin with, and things that simply look dead: A bear in hibernation may appear inanimate due to its decreased heart rate, but don’t be fooled — it’s very much alive.

Example Sentences

Inanimate objects carry within them a mystical force that can awaken these lost feelings of grief, joy and love.

From Salon • Dec. 4, 2022

Inanimate sources have profiles with no discernible features.

From Scientific American • Oct. 4, 2021

Inanimate objects could not withstand Wall’s wrath, and flesh-and-blood defenders didn’t fare much better in the Washington Wizards’ 128-110 blowout of the Lakers.

From Washington Post • Dec. 16, 2018

Here’s how our pilgrims of love progressed this week: Best Supporting Role by an Inanimate Object: Sometimes a bridge is just a bridge.

From Time • Jan. 17, 2012

The grass mourns in the sunbeam, In gums weep the trees And in dye; And if mourn meadow and stream— Inanimate these— May not I?

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume VI The Songs of Scotland of the Past Half Century by Rogers, Charles