vis inertiae

noun
UK: /ˌvɪs ɪˈnɜːʃɪaɪ/
US: /ˌvɪs ɪˈnɜːrʃiˌaɪ/

  1. The tendency of an object to remain at rest or in motion unless acted upon by an external force; inertia.

    1. The ball's vis inertiae kept it still on the ground.
    2. The spacecraft overcame vis inertiae and accelerated into deep space with powerful thrust.

  2. A resistance to change or action; a state of inactivity or apathy.

    1. His vis inertiae kept him from seeking new opportunities.
    2. The company struggled to innovate due to vis inertiae among its long-term employees.

Synonyms

apathy torpor lethargy passivity inertia

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "vis inertiae" in English means: The tendency of an object to remain at rest or in motion unless acted upon by an external force; inertia., A resistance to change or action; a state of inactivity or apathy..

The phonetic transcription of "vis inertiae" is /ˌvɪs ɪˈnɜːʃɪaɪ/ in British English and /ˌvɪs ɪˈnɜːrʃiˌaɪ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "vis inertiae": apathy, torpor, lethargy, passivity, inertia.

Example usage of "vis inertiae": "The ball's vis inertiae kept it still on the ground.". More examples on the page.