inverse

American  

[in-vurs, in-vurs, in-vurs] / ɪnˈvɜrs, ˈɪn vɜrs, ɪnˈvɜrs /

adjective

1. reversed in position, order, direction, or tendency.

2. Mathematics.

   1. (of a proportion) containing terms of which an increase in one results in a decrease in another. A term is said to be in inverse proportion to another term if it increases (or decreases) as the other decreases (or increases).

   2. of or relating to an inverse function.

3. inverted; turned upside down.

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noun

1. an inverted state or condition.

2. something that is inverse; the direct opposite.

3. Mathematics.

   1. an element of an algebraic system, as a group, corresponding to a given element such that its product or sum with the given element is the identity element.

   2. inverse function.

   3. a point related to a given point so that it is situated on the same radius, extended if necessary, of a given circle or sphere and so that the product of the distances of the two points from the center equals the square of the radius of the circle or sphere.

   4. the set of such inverses of the points of a given set, as the points on a curve.

verb (used with object)

inversed, inversing

1. to invert.

inverse British  

/ ˈɪnvɜːs, ɪnˈvɜːs /

adjective

1. opposite or contrary in effect, sequence, direction, etc

2. maths

   1. (of a relationship) containing two variables such that an increase in one results in a decrease in the other

      the volume of a gas is in inverse ratio to its pressure

   2. (of an element) operating on a specified member of a set to produce the identity of the set: the additive inverse element of x is –x, the multiplicative inverse element of x is 1/x

3. (usually prenominal) upside-down; inverted

   in an inverse position

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noun

1. maths

   1. another name for reciprocal

   2. an inverse element

2. logic a categorial proposition derived from another by changing both the proposition and its subject from affirmative to negative, or vice versa, as all immortals are angels from no mortals are angels

inverse Scientific  

1. Relating to a mathematical operation whose nature or effect is the opposite of another operation. For example, addition and subtraction are inverse operations, as are multiplication and division.

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1. An inverse operation. Subtraction is the inverse of addition.

2. Either of a pair of elements in a set whose result under the mathematical operation of the set is the identity element. For example, the inverse of 5 under multiplication is 1/5, since 5 × 1/5 = 1, the identity element under multiplication. The inverse of 5 under addition is −5, since 5 + −5 = 0.

Other Word Forms

• inversely adverb

Etymology

Origin of inverse

1605–15; < Latin inversus, past participle of invertere to turn upside down or inside out, reverse. See in- ², verse

Explanation

If you notice that the more money you have, the less money your brother has, you’ve discovered an inverse relationship: when your bank account increases, his decreases. The word inverse traces back to the Latin inversus, from the past participle of invertere, meaning “turn upside down" or "turn about.” It’s a good word to use when you need to describe one of those topsy-turvy relationships in which when one thing goes up, the other goes down. It can also be used in a broader sense to mean “opposite.” You’ve probably heard someone begin a sentence by saying, “And the inverse was true for so and so . . .” That just means the opposite was true.

Example Sentences

Instead of single stocks, the retail crowd has recently been favoring so-called inverse ETFs — that is, funds that allow an investor to benefit when the price of an underlying stock or index falls.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

He found the inverse correlation between rates and stocks is deeply negative at negative 0.5 — and the market’s rate sensitivity is as high as it’s been in several years.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

The point, which fund companies are often at pains to explain to fundholders, is that the leveraged and inverse ETFs are for short-term hedging and tactical bets, not for doubling down on market outcomes.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

That very round $50 level was also the area of a bullish inverse head and shoulders breakout seen in September 2017.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

He thought nothing of waiting a decade or two after its discovery to publish the inverse square law.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan