inertia
Pronunciation
Noun
B2 Upper-intermediate
Quick answer
The tendency of an object to stay still or keep moving the same way unless a force acts on it, or more generally, a resistance to change.
Usage notes
Outside physics, "inertia" often describes a person's or organization's reluctance to change, as in "bureaucratic inertia".
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "The passengers lurched forward as the bus stopped, thrown by their own _____."
Answer: inertia
In your own words, what does "inertia" mean?
The tendency of an object to stay still or keep moving the same way unless a force acts on it, or more generally, a resistance to change.
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