inanimate
adjective
in·an·i·mate (ˌ)i-ˈna-nə-mət 
1
: not animate:
a
: not endowed with life or spirit
an inanimate object
b
: lacking consciousness or power of motion
an inanimate body
2
: not animated or lively : dull
inanimately adverb
inanimateness noun
Did you know?
The couch you sit on while you watch TV is an inanimate object, as is your footrest, your bag of snacks, and your remote control. Spend too much time on that couch and you risk becoming a couch potato. (A potato is an inanimate object.)
Synonyms
- insensate
- insensible
- insentient
- senseless
- unfeeling
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
“pathetic fallacy” is the literary term for the ascription of human feelings or motives to inanimate natural elements
Recent Examples on the Web This is evident in his dissent in the 1972 Sierra Club v. Morton case, a 4-3 decision in which Douglas ostensibly agreed with the Sierra Club that organizations should be able to sue on behalf of inanimate objects, such as trees. 
San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022 Lamorne Morris plays a politics-averse artist who, after having a harrowing encounter with the police, begins to perceive inanimate objects as, well, animate. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2022 Car makers spend a lot of time fixating on stance—the sense of attitude an inanimate object can be made to project by manipulating its proportions and geometry. Norman Vanamee, Town & Country, 24 Aug. 2022 The fact that the virus can be viable on inanimate objects such as bedsheets also adds to concerns. Naomi Thomas And Neeraj G. Patel, CNN, 9 Aug. 2022 Yet one inanimate object nearly steals the spotlight from the likes of Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock: a bottle of Fiji Water. Esther Zuckerman, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 Lawson draws viewers in with her use of magical realism to illustrate the history and practices of animism — a belief system built around the idea that all animals, plants, places and inanimate objects have a soul — in African culture. Addie Morfoot, Variety, 22 June 2022 Djinn can also take on human or animal form and can possess inanimate objects. Milan Polk, Men's Health, 22 June 2022 Shree sometimes writes from the perspective of inanimate objects, and often relies on Hindi wordplay. Jane Recker, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 May 2022 See More
San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022 Lamorne Morris plays a politics-averse artist who, after having a harrowing encounter with the police, begins to perceive inanimate objects as, well, animate. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2022 Car makers spend a lot of time fixating on stance—the sense of attitude an inanimate object can be made to project by manipulating its proportions and geometry. Norman Vanamee, Town & Country, 24 Aug. 2022 The fact that the virus can be viable on inanimate objects such as bedsheets also adds to concerns. Naomi Thomas And Neeraj G. Patel, CNN, 9 Aug. 2022 Yet one inanimate object nearly steals the spotlight from the likes of Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock: a bottle of Fiji Water. Esther Zuckerman, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 Lawson draws viewers in with her use of magical realism to illustrate the history and practices of animism — a belief system built around the idea that all animals, plants, places and inanimate objects have a soul — in African culture. Addie Morfoot, Variety, 22 June 2022 Djinn can also take on human or animal form and can possess inanimate objects. Milan Polk, Men's Health, 22 June 2022 Shree sometimes writes from the perspective of inanimate objects, and often relies on Hindi wordplay. Jane Recker, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Late Latin inanimatus, from Latin in- + animatus, past participle of animare to animate
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing inanimate
Kids Definition
inanimate
adjective
in·an·i·mate i-ˈna-nə-mət
: not living
Stones are inanimate objects.
Medical Definition
inanimate
adjective
in·an·i·mate (ˈ)in-ˈan-ə-mət
: not animate:
a
: not endowed with life or spirit
b
: lacking consciousness or power of motion
inanimately
adverb
as in sluggishly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sluggishly
- lazily
- slothfully
- heavily
- halfheartedly
- indolently
- dully
- lethargically
- idly
- tardily
- wearily
- inactively
- listlessly
- tiredly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- animately
- lively
- livelily
- pertly
- animatedly
- gayly
- trippingly
- airily
- buoyantly
- sprightly
- gaily
- spiritedly
- perkily
- bouncily
- vivaciously
- playfully
- snappily
- high-spiritedly
- sportively
- gamesomely
- friskily
- sparkily
- skittishly
- energetically
- springily
- briskly
- crisply
- effervescently
- jazzily
- racily