Advertisement - Continue reading below

Definition of "inertia" []

  • Physics The tendency of a body to resist acceleration; the tendency of a body at rest to remain at rest or of a body in straight line motion to stay in motion in a straight line unless acted on by an outside force. (noun)
  • Resistance or disinclination to motion, action, or change: the inertia of an entrenched bureaucracy. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "inertia" in a sentence
  • "Posted September 21, 2004 2: 02 PM beingtrue writes: the inertia is the main reason for the failure of ideas. any reform will make someone lose temperarily."
  • "Instead, he had to give some ground, admit that he's not going to meet this August deadline he's been demanding to combat what he calls inertia back in Washington."
  • "But now it appears we have a return of the "old" Jerry Angelo -- the man who defines the word inertia."