inanimate
adjective
in·an·i·mate
(ˌ)i-ˈna-nə-mət 
1
: not animate:
a
: not endowed with life or spirit
an inanimate object
b
: lacking consciousness or power of motion
an inanimate body
2
: not animated or lively : dull
inanimately
adverb
inanimateness
noun
Did you know?
The couch you sit on while you watch TV is an inanimate object, as is your footrest, your bag of snacks, and your remote control. Spend too much time on that couch and you risk becoming a couch potato. (A potato is an inanimate object.)
Examples of inanimate in a Sentence
“pathetic fallacy” is the literary term for the ascription of human feelings or motives to inanimate natural elements
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s why horror movies often have these inanimate emblems that are so terrifying.
—
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
Celebrate by having a relaxing bath with your favorite inanimate waterfowl.
—Rosalind Bowling, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
Reserve disinfecting products for inanimate surfaces only.
—Michele Cohen Marill, WIRED, 28 Apr. 2020
There’s even been a slew of inanimate prom dates across the US, where students are ditching corsages in favor of cardboard: choosing instead to lug around scale-accurate depictions of Michael B. Jordan, Bernie Sanders and Danny DeVitto.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inanimate
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Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
Celebrate by having a relaxing bath with your favorite inanimate waterfowl.
—Rosalind Bowling, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
Reserve disinfecting products for inanimate surfaces only.
—Michele Cohen Marill, WIRED, 28 Apr. 2020
There’s even been a slew of inanimate prom dates across the US, where students are ditching corsages in favor of cardboard: choosing instead to lug around scale-accurate depictions of Michael B. Jordan, Bernie Sanders and Danny DeVitto.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inanimate
Cite this Entry
“Inanimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inanimate. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inanimate
adjective
in·an·i·mate
(ˈ)in-ˈan-ə-mət
1
: not having life
stones are inanimate
an inanimate object
2
: not animated or lively : dull
inanimately
adverb
Medical Definition
inanimate
adjective
in·an·i·mate
(ˈ)in-ˈan-ə-mət
: not animate:
a
: not endowed with life or spirit
b
: lacking consciousness or power of motion
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