inorganic
|in-or-gan-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌɪnɔːrˈɡænɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌɪnɔːˈɡænɪk/
non-living, non-organic
Etymology
'inorganic' originates from the prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'organic' from the Greek 'organikos', meaning 'instrumental'.
'inorganic' changed from the Medieval Latin word 'inorganicus' and eventually became the modern English word 'inorganic'.
Initially, it meant 'not organic', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not consisting of or deriving from living matter.
The rock is composed of inorganic materials.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 2
relating to or denoting compounds that are not organic (broadly, compounds not containing carbon).
Inorganic chemistry deals with metals and minerals.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42