inverse

1 of 2

adjective

in·​verse (ˌ)in-ˈvərs 

ˈin-ˌvərs

1

: opposite in order, nature, or effect

2

: being an inverse function

inverse sine

inverse

2 of 2

noun

1

: something of a contrary nature or quality : opposite, reverse

2

: a proposition or theorem formed by contradicting both the subject and predicate or both the hypothesis and conclusion of a given proposition or theorem

the inverse of "if A then B" is "if not-A then not-B"

compare contrapositive

3

a

: inverse function

also : an operation (such as subtraction) that undoes the effect of another operation

b

: a set element that is related to another element in such a way that the result of applying a given binary operation to them is an identity element of the set

Examples of inverse in a Sentence

Adjective

Addition and subtraction are inverse operations.

Noun

the inverse of your argument

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The two markets have an inverse relationship going back to 2024. —Todd Gordon, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2024

Male voters showed a similar but inverse pattern, favoring Trump by 52 percent to Harris' 38 percent. —David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024

Noun

The offense Macdonald and Grubb talked about can loosely be interpreted as the inverse, using Smith’s arm and the threat of all those pass catchers to generate advantageous run looks for Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. —Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025

Think of it as the inverse of the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement that was buzzing in 2023. —Ryley Amond, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, turned upside down, from Latin inversus, from past participle of invertere

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing inverse

• additive inverse
• inverse function
• inverse square law
• inverse variation
• multiplicative inverse

Kids Definition

inverse

1 of 2 adjective

in·​verse (ˈ)in-ˈvərs 

ˈin-vərs

1

: opposite in order, nature, or effect

an inverse relationship between interest rates and houses sold

2

: being a mathematical operation opposite in effect to another

addition and subtraction are inverse operations

inverse

2 of 2 noun

in·​verse

ˈin-ˌvərs,

(ˈ)in-ˈvərs

: something inverse or resulting in or from inversion