Inertia

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ɪnˈɝ.ʃə/, /ɪˈnɝ.ʃə/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)ʃə

Origin

From Latin inertia ("lack of art or skill, inactivity, indolence"), from iners ("unskilled, inactive"), from in- ("without, not") + ars ("skill, art").

Full definition of inertia

Noun

1. (physics, uncountable or countable) The property of a body that resists any change to its uniform motion; equivalent to its mass.
2. (figuratively) In a person, unwillingness to take action.
• CarlyleMen ... have immense irresolution and inertia.
• 2014, Jacob Steinberg, "Wigan shock Manchester City in FA Cup again to reach semi-finals", The Guardian, 9 March 2014:City had been woeful, their anger at their own inertia summed up when Samir Nasri received a booking for dissent, and they did not have a shot on target until the 66th minute.
3. (medicine) Lack of activity; sluggishness; said especially of the uterus, when, in labour, its contractions have nearly or wholly ceased.

Synonyms

• (unwillingness to take action) idleness, laziness, sloth, slothfulness

Derived terms

• inertial
• inertia welding
• moment of inertia

Related terms

• inert
• inertness