inorganic

adjective

in·​or·​gan·​ic ˌin-(ˌ)ȯr-ˈga-nik 

1

a(1)

: being or composed of matter other than plant or animal : mineral

(2)

: forming or belonging to the inanimate world

b

: of, relating to, or dealt with by a branch of chemistry concerned with substances not usually classed as organic

2

: not arising from natural growth : artificial

also : lacking structure, character, or vitality

dull inorganic things, without individuality or prestige

—John Buchan

inorganically

ˌin-(ˌ)ȯr-ˈga-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of inorganic in a Sentence

producing energy from inorganic materials

Recent Examples on the Web

But because the Oxford Five are all based on a single character and spend so much time talking each other through theories about what’s going on, scenes focused on them often feel the show taking a moment to spell out plot points in ways that feel clumsy and inorganic. —Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024

There are fine actors performing and perfecting this dialect of inorganic Southern speak, drifting further from the communities they have been paid, often handsomely, to emulate. —New York Times, 26 Mar. 2024

The robot provided overly realistic responses and movements, seemed able to distinguish between organic and inorganic matter and explained the nuances of its decisions. —Peter Aitken, Fox News, 24 Mar. 2024

The objects are inorganic and can therefore be in storage for an extended amount of time without jeopardizing their safety. —Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2024

Instead, their method relies on direct cross-linking of the inorganic HSQ. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 7 July 2023

Will there be potential inorganic opportunities to add to our current growth? —Nick Statt, The Verge, 26 Feb. 2024

Although for me, questions of habit, the inorganic nature of driving and social pressure rise before the innate chaos and evil of the human soul. —Ron Lieber, New York Times, 16 Dec. 2023

In traditional hydrometallurgy, a battery’s metals are reduced to a black powder and dissolved in an inorganic acid. —Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Dec. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1729, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing inorganic

• inorganic chemistry

Kids Definition

inorganic

adjective

in·​or·​gan·​ic ˌin-ˌȯr-ˈgan-ik 

1

: being or composed of matter that does not come from plants or animals either alive or dead : mineral

2

: of or relating to a branch of chemistry concerned with substances that contain little or no carbon

inorganically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

inorganic

adjective

in·​or·​gan·​ic ˌin-ˌȯr-ˈgan-ik 

1

a

: being or composed of matter other than plant or animal

an inorganic heart

b

: forming or belonging to the inanimate world

2

: of, relating to, or dealt with by a branch of chemistry concerned with substances not usually classified as organic

inorganically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb