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 being moved : fixed

immobility

ˌi-(ˌ)mō-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

Synonyms

• nonmoving
• standing
• static
• stationary

Examples of immobile in a Sentence

The tranquilizer made the animal immobile.

The accident left her immobile.

Recent Examples on the Web

About 30 minutes later, three deputies debated how to book the immobile man. —Christopher Damien, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2025

Video posted on social media showed victims and debris strewn across a long stretch of road, with at least seven people lying immobile on the ground. —Associated Press, Time, 27 Apr. 2025

The face itself looked fine — a bit glowy at times and immobile around the eyes — but its novelty quickly wore off. —Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025

When Wells fell, he was held completely immobile for 30 minutes by the tons of wet concrete surrounding him, his suit says. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 4 May 2025

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