inelastic

[ in-i-las-tik ]

/ ˌɪn ɪˈlæs tɪk /

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See synonyms for: inelastic / inelasticity on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not elastic; lacking flexibility or resilience; unyielding.

Economics. relatively unresponsive to changes, as demand when it fails to increase in proportion to a decrease in price.Compare elastic (def. 6).

OTHER WORDS FOR inelastic

1 inflexible; rigid, uncompromising.

See synonyms for inelastic on Thesaurus.com

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of inelastic

First recorded in 1740–50; in-³ + elastic

OTHER WORDS FROM inelastic

in·e·las·tic·i·ty

[in-i-la-stis-i-tee], /ˌɪn ɪ læˈstɪs ɪ ti/, noun

Words nearby inelastic

inefficacy, inefficiency, inefficient, in effigy, inegalitarian, inelastic, inelastic collision, inelastic demand, inelastic scattering, inelastic supply, inelegance

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use inelastic in a sentence

A decade ago, FiveThirtyEight editor-in-chief Nate Silver introduced the concept of “elastic” and “inelastic” states, which refers to how sensitive a state is to changes in the national political environment and the relative swinginess of the state.
Why Fewer Americans Are Likely To Vote For A Republican Governor And A Democratic Senator|Geoffrey Skelley (geoffrey.skelley@abc.com)|October 12, 2022|FiveThirtyEight
However, Georgia is also a state with a racially polarized electorate that is, as we say, “highly inelastic” because it just doesn’t have a lot of swing voters.
What Is Republicans’ Path To Winning The Senate?|Sarah Frostenson (sarah.frostenson@abc.com)|September 8, 2022|FiveThirtyEight
This gives Georgia what we at FiveThirtyEight call an “inelastic” electorate, or an electorate for which factors like the political environment and candidate traits are unlikely to sway voters because so few voters are swing voters.
Georgia’s Senate Race Is Much Closer Than The Governor Election. Will That Hold Until November?|Geoffrey Skelley (geoffrey.skelley@abc.com)|September 7, 2022|FiveThirtyEight
The difficulty is assuming that a lung transplant is "inelastic".
Why Do We Want Prices in Health Care?|Megan McArdle|February 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Things can be more or less inelastic, which is to say, that demand can be more or less responsive to changes in price.
Why Do We Want Prices in Health Care?|Megan McArdle|February 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The last glass of water in a desert is the quintessential inelastic good; people will pay all they have to get it.
Why Do We Want Prices in Health Care?|Megan McArdle|February 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
From the point of view of cover, the gold certificate is completely inelastic.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
It was inelastic, incompetent to adapt itself to changing circumstances.
The English Church in the Eighteenth Century|Charles J. Abbey and John H. Overton
Catching sight of his Captain on the platform, the Doctor bent his steps thither, and they were slow and inelastic.
Wandering Heath|Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
At the same moment we heard the fall 220 of something heavy and inelastic in the upper story.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 4 (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson
It is not permitted to discriminate; it can neither relax nor repress; it is absolutely inelastic.
The Hills and the Vale|Richard Jefferies

British Dictionary definitions for inelastic

inelastic

/ (ˌɪnɪˈlæstɪk) /

adjective

not elastic; not resilient

physics (of collisions) involving an overall decrease in translational kinetic energy

Derived forms of inelastic

inelastically, adverbinelasticity (ˌɪnɪlæsˈtɪsɪtɪ), 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

inelastic

OTHER WORDS FOR inelastic

Origin of inelastic

OTHER WORDS FROM inelastic

Words nearby inelastic

Words related to inelastic

How to use inelastic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inelastic

Derived forms of inelastic