nonmotile

adjective

non·​mo·​tile ˌnän-ˈmō-tᵊl 

-ˌtī(-ə)l

: not exhibiting or capable of movement : not motile

… separating healthy from non-motile sperm.

—Michael Shuler

Motile bacteria have flagella, while nonmotile bacteria do not.

—Bruce Hofkin

Synonyms

• immobile
• immotile
• immovable
• irremovable
• nonmoving
• unbudging
• unmovable

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

nonmotile

adjective

non·​mo·​tile -ˈmōt-ᵊl, -ˈmō-ˌtīl 

variants or non-motile

: not exhibiting or capable of movement : not motile

nonmotile gram-negative bacterial rods

a nonmotile sperm