/
ɪˈnəːʃə/
n.
- a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged.
- Physics a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line, unless changed by an external force.
▸resistance to change in some other physical property:
the thermal inertia of the oceans.
Etymology
C18: from L., from iners, inert- (see inert).