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
… a lady of very prim appearance, and remarkably inanimate.—
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
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
Then, in European culture, Christianity appeared, a religion which made an astonishing discovery, namely, that the primary cause for everything—humans, animals, nature, fertility, the inanimate world, the universe, the cosmos—could be concentrated into one single point.
—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
28 June 2026
As a result, the concept of animal rights was non-existent and people were free to treat animals like any other inanimate property.
—
Rob Toews,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2026
Will the movie turn out to be a period piece set in 2006, with all the human and inanimate characters obsessed with the debut album by a 16-year-old country singer from Tennessee?
—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
29 May 2026
Both cameras have extremely sticky tracking systems that focus on the eyes of people, wildlife, pets, and insects, as well as inanimate subjects like trains, planes, automobiles, and motorbikes.
—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inanimate
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Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
28 June 2026
As a result, the concept of animal rights was non-existent and people were free to treat animals like any other inanimate property.
—
Rob Toews,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2026
Will the movie turn out to be a period piece set in 2006, with all the human and inanimate characters obsessed with the debut album by a 16-year-old country singer from Tennessee?
—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
29 May 2026
Both cameras have extremely sticky tracking systems that focus on the eyes of people, wildlife, pets, and insects, as well as inanimate subjects like trains, planes, automobiles, and motorbikes.
—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inanimate
Cite this Entry
“Inanimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inanimate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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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