immobile

adjective

im·​mo·​bile (ˌ)i(m)-ˈmō-bəl 

-ˌbī(-ə)l

also -ˌbēl

1

: not moving : motionless

keep the patient immobile

2

: incapable of moving or being moved

was left immobile by the tranquilizer

immobility

ˌi-(ˌ)mō-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

Synonyms of immobile

• motionless
• static
• stationary
• standing

Examples of immobile in a Sentence

The tranquilizer made the animal immobile.

The accident left her immobile.

Recent Examples on the Web

Harbaugh won a Super Bowl with immobile gunslinger Joe Flacco (and a dominant defense) and then oversaw Lamar Jackson’s development from a raw athletic specimen into a two-time MVP. —Dan Duggan, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026

Stray voltage from a nearby streetlight shocked her and her dog Denim, leaving him immobile. —Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026

To fully engage the muscles in your arms and shoulders (and reap all the strength-building benefits), keep your torso as immobile as possible while doing arm exercises. —Jenessa Connor, Health, 11 Jan. 2026

The lawsuit also claims Cortez’s truck was immobile due to the crash and could not have accelerated toward the officers. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English in-mobill, from Latin immobilis, from in- + mobilis mobile

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for immobile

• ennoble
• ignoble
• coble
• dobell
• global
• lobel
• noble
• sobol

Kids Definition

immobile

adjective

im·​mo·​bile (ˈ)im-ˈ(m)ō-bəl 

-ˌbēl, 

-ˌbīl

: unable to move or be moved

immobility

ˌim-(ˌ)ō-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

Medical Definition

immobile

adjective

im·​mo·​bile (ˈ)im-ˈ(m)ō-bəl  -ˌbēl  -ˌbīl 

1

: incapable of being moved

2

: not moving

keep the patient immobile

immobility

ˌim-(ˌ)ō-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural immobilities