inertia
[ in-ur-shuh, ih-nur- ]
/ ɪnˈɜr ʃə, ɪˈnɜr- /
Save This Word!
noun
inertness, especially with regard to effort, motion, action, and the like; inactivity; sluggishness.
Physics.
- the property of matter by which it retains its state of rest or its velocity along a straight line so long as it is not acted upon by an external force.
- an analogous property of a force: electric inertia.
Medicine/Medical. lack of activity, especially as applied to a uterus during childbirth when its contractions have decreased or stopped.
QUIZ
ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?
We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.
Question 1 of 8
Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?
Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing
OTHER WORDS FROM inertia
in·er·tial, adjectivenon·i·ner·tial, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use inertia in a sentence
Inertial mass is the amount of matter in an object, the measure of the resistance an object has when a force pushes it.
The Equivalence Principle and Testing Einstein With Spaceships and Atoms|Matthew R. Francis|June 4, 2014|DAILY BEASTThey are the inertial power – rather than the counterfist of reform.
After the Rain|Sam Vaknin"You are, of course, aware of the problems inherent in the development of inertial systems," Marks began.
The Electronic Mind Reader|John BlaineThe delicate accelerometers and inertial guidance components did all the piloting until the second stage kicked us loose.
The Trouble with Telstar|John Berryman
British Dictionary definitions for inertia
inertia
/ (ɪnˈɜːʃə, -ʃɪə) /
noun
the state of being inert; disinclination to move or act
physics
- the tendency of a body to preserve its state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force
- an analogous property of other physical quantities that resist changethermal inertia
Derived forms of inertia
inertial, adjectiveCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for inertia
inertia
[ ĭ-nûr′shə ]
n.
The tendency of a body to resist acceleration; the tendency of a body at rest to remain at rest or of a body in motion to stay in motion in a straight line unless acted on by an outside force.
Resistance or disinclination to motion, action, or change.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for inertia
inertia
[ ĭ-nûr′shə ]
The resistance of a body to changes in its momentum. Because of inertia, a body at rest remains at rest, and a body in motion continues moving in a straight line and at a constant speed, unless a force is applied to it. Mass can be considered a measure of a body's inertia. See more at Newton's laws of motion. See also mass.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for inertia
inertia
[ (i-nur-shuh) ]
In physics, the tendency for objects at rest to remain at rest, and for objects in uniform motion to continue in motion in a straight line, unless acted on by an outside force. (See Newton's laws of motion.)
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.