Denotation vs. Connotation


[in-awr-gan-ik] /ˌɪn ɔrˈgæn ɪk/
not having the structure or organization characteristic of living bodies.
not characterized by vital processes.
Chemistry. noting or pertaining to compounds that are not hydrocarbons or their derivatives.
Compare organic (def 1).
not fundamental or related; extraneous.
Origin of inorganic
1785-95; in-3 + organic
Related forms
inorganically, adverb Unabridged
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British Dictionary definitions for inorganic


not having the structure or characteristics of living organisms; not organic
relating to or denoting chemical compounds that do not contain carbon Compare organic (sense 4)
not having a system, structure, or ordered relation of parts; amorphous
not resulting from or produced by growth; artificial
(linguistics) denoting or relating to a sound or letter introduced into the pronunciation or spelling of a word at some point in its history
Derived Forms
inorganically, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for inorganic

1794, "without organized organic structure," from in- (1) "not, opposite of" + organic. Sense of "not arriving by natural growth" recorded from 1862.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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inorganic in Medicine

inorganic in·or·gan·ic (ĭn'ôr-gān'ĭk)

  1. Not formed by or involving organic life or the products of organic life.

  2. Not composed of organic matter.

  3. Of or relating to compounds not containing carbon to hydrogen bonds

in'or·gan'i·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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inorganic in Science
  1. Not involving organisms or the products of their life processes.

  2. Relating to chemical compounds that occur mainly outside of living or once living organisms, such as those in rocks, minerals, and ceramics. Most inorganic compounds lack carbon, such as salt (NaCl) and ammonia (NH3); a few, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), do contain it, but never attached to hydrogen atoms as in hydrocarbons. Inorganic molecules tend to have a relatively small number of atoms as compared with organic molecules.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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