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inert

[ in-urt, ih-nurt ]
/ ɪnˈɜrt, ɪˈnɜrt /
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See synonyms for: inert / inertness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
having no inherent power of action, motion, or resistance (opposed to active): inert matter.
Chemistry. having little or no ability to react, as nitrogen that occurs uncombined in the atmosphere.
Pharmacology. having no pharmacological action, as the excipient of a pill.
inactive or sluggish by habit or nature.
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Origin of inert

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin inert- (stem of iners ) “unskillful,” equivalent to in- in-3 + -ert-, combining form of art- (stem of ars ) “skill”; see art1

synonym study for inert

4. See inactive.

OTHER WORDS FROM inert

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

How to use inert in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inert

inert
/ (ɪnˈɜːt) /

adjective
having no inherent ability to move or to resist motion
inactive, lazy, or sluggish
having only a limited ability to react chemically; unreactive

Derived forms of inert

inertly, adverbinertness, noun

Word Origin for inert

C17: from Latin iners unskilled, from in- 1 + ars skill; see art 1
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

Scientific definitions for inert

inert
[ ĭn-ûrt ]

Not chemically reactive.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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