Definition of INERTIA

inertia

Meanings

Plural: inertiae, inertias, inertiæ

Noun

  • a disposition to remain inactive or inert
    • "he had to overcome his inertia and get back to work"
  • (physics) the tendency of a body to maintain its state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force
  • The property of a body that resists any change to its uniform motion; equivalent to its mass.
  • In a person, unwillingness to take action.
  • Lack of activity; sluggishness; said especially of the uterus, when, in labour, its contractions have nearly or wholly ceased.

Origin / Etymology

From Latin inertia (“lack of art or skill, inactivity, indolence”), from iners (“unskilled, inactive”), from in- (“without, not”) + ars (“skill, art”). The modern physics sense was first used in New Latin by Johannes Kepler.

Antonyms

activeness

Scrabble Score: 7

inertia is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
inertia is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
inertia is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 8

inertia is a valid Words With Friends word