Added 9 October 2026
inanition
/ɪnəˈnɪʃən/ noun
Latin root: inānītio Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about inanition at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- The act of removing the contents of something; the state of being empty.
- A state of advanced lack of adequate nutrition, food, or water or a physiological inability to utilize them, with resulting weakness.
- A spiritual emptiness or lack of purpose or will to live, akin to nausea in existentialist philosophy.
Origin
From Middle English inanicioun, borrowed from Old French inanition, itself borrowed from Late Latin inānītio, from inānīre (“to make empty”), from inānis (“empty, vain”); see inane.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)