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infantile paralysis
system | an inefficient secretary —ly adv —ciency n [U] Due to the inefficiency of the postal system, her letters took two weeks to arrive.
in·el·e·gant /ɪnˈelɪgənt/ adj lacking in grace or good taste; not ELEGANT: an inelegant gesture —ly adv —gance n [U]
in·el·i·gi·ble /ɪnˈelɪdʒəbl/ adj [(for)] not suitable to be chosen or included; not ELIGIBLE: ineligible for election because too young | [F+to-v] He was ineligible to vote, because he didn't belong to the club. —bility /ɪnˌelɪdʒəˈbɪlɪti/ n [U]
in·e·luc·ta·ble /ˌɪnɪˈlʌktəbl/ adj fml impossible to escape from; unavoidable —bly adv
in·ept /ɪˈnept/ adj 1 [(at)] not effective; CLUMSY: I made a rather inept attempt to remedy the situation. 2 foolishly unsuitable: What an inept remark to make on such a formal occasion. → compare INAPT —ly adv —itude, -ness n [U]
in·e·qual·i·ty /ˌɪnɪˈkwɒlɪti || -ˈkwɑː-/ n [C usually pl;U] (a) lack of fairness or equality: There are many inequalities in the law. | social inequality
in·eq·ui·ta·ble /ɪnˈekwɪtəbl/ adj fml not equally fair to everyone; unjust: an inequitable distribution of the money —bly adv
in·eq·ui·ty /ɪnˈekwɪti/ n [C;U] fml (an example of) injustice or unfairness
in·e·rad·i·ca·ble /ˌɪnɪˈrædɪkəbl/ adj fml which cannot be completely removed, especially from a person's character: an ineradicable flaw —bly adv
in·ert /ɪˈnɜːt || -ɜːrt/ adj 1 without the strength or power to move: He lay completely inert on the floor and we feared he was dead. 2 tech not acting chemically when combined with other substances: inert gases —ly adv —ness n [U]
in·er·tia /ɪˈnɜːə || -ɜːr-/ n [U] 1 the force which keeps a thing in the position or state it is in until it is moved or stopped by another force: A ball will keep rolling under its own inertia until friction stops it. | (fig.) The inertia of the parliamentary system ensures that such inequalities are never put right. 2 the state of being powerless to move or too lazy to move: a feeling of inertia on a hot summer day
in'er·tia reel n a wound length, especially of a SEAT BELT in a car, that will unwind if it is pulled steadily but sticks if it is pulled suddenly
in,er·tia 'selling n [U] especially BrE the selling of goods by sending them to people who have not asked for them and demanding payment if they are not returned
in·es·ca·pa·ble /ˌɪnɪˈskeɪpəbl/ adj impossible to avoid: Your son was the only person there, so the inescapable inference is that he stole the money. —bly adv
in·es·sen·tial¹ /ˌɪnɪˈsenʃəl/ adj [(to)] not needed; unnecessary
inessential² n [often pl.] something that is not needed: This report does not concern itself with inessentials; it gets directly to the main point.
in·es·ti·ma·ble /ɪnˈestɪməbl/ adj fml apprec too great or excellent to be calculated: Your advice has been of inestimable value to us. —bly adv
in·ev·i·ta·ble /ɪˈnevɪtəbl/ adj 1 which cannot be avoided or prevented from happening; certain to happen: A confrontation was inevitable because they disliked each other so much. | They reached the inevitable conclusion that the money must have been stolen. | the inevitable consequences of his actions | Given the current financial situation, it was inevitable that the pound would be devalued. 2 [A] infml which always happens or is always present: The head teacher made his inevitable joke about the school food. —bly adv: He was, inevitably, upset by her departure, but he soon got over it. —bility /ˌɪnevɪtəˈbɪlɪti/ n [U]
in·ex·act /ˌɪnɪgˈzækt/ adj not exact: Sociology is an inexact science. —itude, -ness n [U]
in·ex·cu·sa·ble /ˌɪnɪkˈskjuːzəbl/ adj too bad to be excused: inexcusable behaviour/lateness/rudeness —bly adv
in·ex·haus·ti·ble /ˌɪnɪgˈzɔːstəbl/ adj existing in such large amounts that it can never be finished or used up: inexhaustible patience | an inexhaustible supply of funny stories —bly adv
in·ex·o·ra·ble /ɪnˈeksərəbl/ adj 1 whose actions or effects cannot be changed or prevented by one's efforts: the slow but inexorable workings of British justice | inexorable price rises 2 fml not able to be persuaded to act differently: an inexorable opponent —bly adv: The runaway train bore down inexorably on the trapped rabbit. —bility /ˌɪnˌeksərəˈbɪlɪti/ n [U]
in·ex·pe·di·ent /ˌɪnɪkˈspiːdiənt/ adj fml not useful, advisable, or convenient; not EXPEDIENT —ency, -ence n [U]
in·ex·pen·sive /ˌɪnɪkˈspensɪv/ adj often suph reasonable in price; not expensive —ly adv —ness n [U]
in·ex·pe·ri·ence /ˌɪnɪkˈspɪəriəns/ n [U] lack of experience
in·ex·pe·ri·enced /ˌɪnɪkˈspɪəriənst/ adj (of a person) lacking the knowledge which one gains by experiencing some activity or life generally: a rather inexperienced young salesman
in·ex·pert /ɪnˈekspɜːt || -ɜːrt/ adj [(at, in)] not good at doing something; unskilled: his inexpert attempts to cook/to speak French —ly adv —ness n [U]
in·ex·plic·a·ble /ˌɪnɪkˈsplɪkəbl || ɪnˈeksplɪkəbl, ˌɪnɪkˈsplɪk-/ adj too strange to be explained or understood: the inexplicable disappearance of the woman, who was never seen again —bility /ˌɪnɪkˌsplɪkəˈbɪlɪti/ n [U]
in·ex·plic·a·bly /ˌɪnɪkˈsplɪkəbl || ɪnˈeksplkəbli, ˌɪnɪkˈsplɪk-/ adv 1 in an inexplicable way 2 it is an inexplicable fact (that): Inexplicably, journalists failed to report the affair, and the scandal was hidden from the public for several weeks.
in·ex·pres·si·ble /ˌɪnɪkˈspresəbl/ adj fml (of a feeling) too great or too strong to be expressed in words: inexpressible joy/sorrow/relief —bly adv —bility /ˌɪnɪkspresəˈbɪlɪti/ n [U]
in·ex·press·ive /ˌɪnɪkˈspresv/ adj lacking expression or meaning: an inexpressive face
in·ex·tin·guish·a·ble /ˌɪnɪkˈstɪŋgwɪʃəbl/ adj fml (of fire and feelings) which cannot be destroyed or put out: inextinguishable hope | (fig.) the inextinguishable flame of liberty
in ex·tre·mis /ˌɪn kˈstriːmɪs/ adv Lat fml (as if) at the moment of death: The government's incomes plan was saved in extremis (=when it was about to fail) by some last-minute concessions to the unions.
in·ex·tri·ca·ble /ɪnˈekstrɪkəbl, ˌɪnɪkˈstriː-/ adj fml 1 from which it is impossible to get free: inextricable financial troubles 2 which cannot be untied or separated: The history of scientific advance and the history of warfare are inextricable. —bly adv: The country's high birthrate and low life expectancy are inextricably linked.
in·fal·li·ble /ɪnˈfæləbl/ adj 1 never making mistakes or doing anything bad: So what if I did get the answer wrong? I'm not infallible, you know! | an infallible memory 2 (of a thing) always having the right effect: an infallible remedy/cure —bly adv —bility /ˌɪnˌfæləˈbɪlɪti/ n [U] Catholics are required to believe in the infallibility of the Pope.
in·fa·mous /ˈɪnfəməs/ adj 1 well known for being bad, especially morally wicked: an infamous criminal/traitor | (fig.) Steve's infamous for his practical jokes. 2 fml evil; wicked: infamous behaviour → see FAMOUS (USAGE)
in·fa·my /ˈɪnfəmi/ n fml 1 [U] the quality of being infamous 2 [C often pl.] an infamous act
in·fan·cy /ˈɪnfənsi/ n [S;U] 1 the period of being an infant; early childhood 2 a beginning or early period of existence: The company is still only in its infancy.
in·fant /ˈɪnfənt/ n 1 a very young child, especially one who has not learnt to speak or walk: a high rate of infant mortality → see CHILD (USAGE) 2 BrE a very young school-child, especially below the age of eight: Our little boy is in the infants' class. | an infant teacher
in·fan·ta /ɪnˈfæntə/ n [(often cap.)] the daughter of a Spanish or Portuguese king
in·fan·ti·cide /ɪnˈfæntɪsaɪd/ n 1 [C;U] fml the crime of killing a child, especially an infant. Infanticide is still practised in some societies, where girl children are killed because male children are considered more valuable. 2 [C] tech a person guilty of this crime
in·fan·tile /ˈɪnfəntaɪl/ adj usually derog like or typical of a small child; PUERILE: infantile humour | His behaviour is appallingly infantile! (=foolishly childlike)
,infantile pa'ralysis n [U] old-fash for POLIO