inversion

noun

in·​ver·​sion in-ˈvər-zhən 

-shən

plural inversions

1

: a reversal of position, order, form, or relationship: such as

a(1)

: a change in normal word order

especially : the placement of a verb before its subject

(2)

: the process or result of changing or reversing the relative positions of the notes of a musical interval, chord, or phrase

b

: the condition of being turned inward or inside out

c

: a breaking off of a chromosome section and its subsequent reattachment in inverted position

also : a chromosomal section that has undergone this process

2

: the act or process of inverting

3

a

: a change in the order of the terms of a mathematical proportion effected by inverting each ratio

b

: the operation of forming the inverse of a magnitude, a function, an operation, or an element

4

a

: the conversion of dextrorotatory sucrose into a levorotatory mixture of glucose and fructose

b

: a change from one stereochemical figuration at a chiral center in a usually organic molecule to the opposite configuration that is brought about by a reaction in which a substitution of one group is made for a different group

5

: an increase of temperature with height through a layer of air

6

: a corporate reorganization in which a U.S. corporation merges with or acquires a foreign corporation and restructures the U.S. corporation as a subsidiary of the newly created multinational company for the purpose of establishing a domicile in a foreign country and taking advantage of the country's corporate tax structure

U.S. businesses are buying foreign companies in countries with lower tax rates so they can switch their legal home and cut their tax bills. The process, known as inversion, is the hottest trend in mergers and acquisitions, driving some of the biggest takeovers this year.

—Tom Fairless and Shayndi Raice

7

dated : homosexuality

also : identification with the gender role of the opposite sex

Examples of inversion in a Sentence

an inversion of the roles of parent and child

Inversion of the two words changes the meaning of the sentence.

Recent Examples on the Web

Radical approaches to what is precious and what is worthless—or appraisal—have always been more than the inversion of that which is useless made priceless, what was originally meant to be ephemeral made timeless. —Literary Hub, 8 June 2026

Yield curve inversion—when investors become more afraid of the near-future than the long-term—is a traditional harbinger of recession. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 7 June 2026

The Court’s ruling amounts to a total inversion of the Civil War amendments, which make no such exceptions for racial discrimination in the name of partisanship. —Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026

Civil rights attorneys describe the administration’s actions as a complete inversion of legal history. —ABC News, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1546, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing inversion

• temperature inversion

Rhymes for inversion

• aspersion
• aversion
• conversion
• dispersion
• diversion
• eversion
• excursion
• immersion
• incursion
• perversion
• recursion
• reversion

Kids Definition

inversion

noun

in·​ver·​sion in-ˈvər-zhən 

-shən

1

: a reversal of position, order, or relationship

2

: the act or process of inverting

3

: increase of temperature of the air with increasing altitude

Medical Definition

inversion

noun

in·​ver·​sion in-ˈvər-zhən, -shən 

1

: a reversal of position, order, form, or relationship: as

a

: a dislocation of a bodily structure in which it is turned partially or wholly inside out

inversion of the uterus

b

: the condition (as of the foot) of being turned or rotated inward compare eversion sense 2

c

: retroflexion

d

: a breaking off of a chromosome section and its subsequent reattachment in inverted position

also : a chromosomal section that has undergone this process

2

a

: the conversion of dextrorotatory sucrose into a levorotatory mixture of glucose and fructose

b

: a change from one stereochemical figuration at a chiral center in a usually organic molecule to the opposite configuration that is brought about by a reaction in which a substitution of one group is made for a different group

3

dated : homosexuality

Legal Definition

inversion

noun

in·​ver·​sion in-ˈvər-zhən 

: a corporate reorganization in which a U.S. corporation buys or merges with a foreign corporation and is restructured as a subsidiary of the newly created multinational company in order to establish a domicile in a foreign country with lower corporate taxes

called also corporate inversion, tax inversion