immortal

American  

[ih-mawr-tl] / ɪˈmɔr tl /

adjective

1. not mortal; not liable or subject to death; undying.

   our immortal souls.

2. remembered or celebrated through all time.

   the immortal words of Lincoln.

3. not liable to perish or decay; imperishable; everlasting.

4. perpetual; lasting; constant.

   an immortal enemy.

5. of or relating to immortal beings or immortality.

6. (of a laboratory-cultured cell line) capable of dividing indefinitely.

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noun

1. an immortal being.

2. a person of enduring fame.

   Bach, Milton, El Greco, and other immortals.

   Synonyms:

   genius, titan, giant

3. the Immortals, the 40 members of the French Academy.

4. (often initial capital letter) any of the gods of classical mythology.

immortal British  

/ ɪˈmɔːtəl /

adjective

1. not subject to death or decay; having perpetual life

2. having everlasting fame; remembered throughout time

3. everlasting; perpetual; constant

4. of or relating to immortal beings or concepts

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noun

1. an immortal being

2. (often plural) a person who is remembered enduringly, esp an author

   Dante is one of the immortals

Other Word Forms

• immortality noun
• immortally adverb
• quasi-immortal adjective
• quasi-immortally adverb

Etymology

Origin of immortal

1325–75; Middle English (adj.) < Latin immortālis. See im- ², mortal

Explanation

Immortal describes what will never die. Do you like vampires? Those blood-suckers are immortal, and will live forever — except, of course, if you drive a stake through their heart. The word immortal can refer a supernatural being who is worshipped by others, or is a divinity or God in human form, like the gods of Greek and Roman mythology. Immortal can also mean "a person whose fame lasts for many years." If you're a sports legend or a well-known author, you may be remembered as an immortal in your field. Immortal comes from the Old French word immortalité, meaning "deathlessness."

Example Sentences

There has never been an immortal economic expansion.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

But since they’re immortal, they can simply reattach their own limbs and plop their heads back in place.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Even the rare circumstance of a tie was handled expertly by live-action-short award presenter Kumail Nanjiani, never bringing to mind the immortal confusion of “Moonlight” vs.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

But, while nearly all cell cultures died quickly in the lab, those taken from Ms Lacks continued to multiply and didn't age, making them "immortal".

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

I had Darin, who loomed so large in my life that I thought him immortal as the stars.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

Related Words

• endless
• enduring
• eternal
• everlasting
• indestructible
• never-ending
• timeless