inertia

in·er·tia

noun \i-ˈnər-shə, -shē-ə\

Definition of INERTIA

1

a : a property of matter by which it remains at rest or in uniform motion in the same straight line unless acted upon by some external force

b : an analogous property of other physical quantities (as electricity)

2

: indisposition to motion, exertion, or change : inertness

— in·er·tial \-shəl\ adjective

— in·er·tial·ly \-ˈnər-sh(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of INERTIA

1. He blames governmental inertia for the holdup.
2. After 10 years in an unsatisfying job she overcame her inertia and went back to school.

Origin of INERTIA

New Latin, from Latin, lack of skill, from inert-, iners

First Known Use: 1713

Related to INERTIA

Synonyms

idleness, indolence, laziness, shiftlessness, sloth

Antonyms

drive, industriousness, industry

Related Words

apathy, languor, lassitude, lethargy, listlessness, sluggishness, supineness; dallying, goldbricking, loafing, lolling, lounging

Near Antonyms

ambition, enterprise, go, hustle, initiative; assiduity, assiduousness, diligence, perseverance; animation, briskness, energy, exuberance, jazziness, liveliness, lustiness, pep, peppiness, robustness, sprightliness, vibrancy, vigor, vim, vitality, vivacity

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

in·er·tia

noun \in-ˈər-shə, -shē-ə\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of INERTIA

1

a : a property of matter by which it remains at rest or in uniform motion in the same straight line unless acted upon by some external force b : an analogous property of other physical quantities (as electricity)

2

: lack of activity or movement—used especially of the uterus in labor when its contractions are weak or irregular

inertia

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Inherent property of a body that makes it oppose any force that would cause a change in its motion. A body at rest and a body in motion both oppose forces that might cause acceleration. The inertia of a body can be measured by its mass, which governs its resistance to the action of a force, or by its moment of inertia about a specified axis, which measures its resistance to the action of a torque about the same axis.