immobility

/ˌɪməˈbɪləti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪməˈbɪləti/ (ame, ipa) · /¦i(m)+/ (ame, mw)

immobility — noun

1. a state in which a person, animal, or part of the body does not move at all or i

1.名詞B2
釋義

a state in which a person, animal, or part of the body does not move at all or is physically prevented from moving

例句

After the car accident, a neck brace kept Nadia in total immobility for six weeks.

collocation: total immobility

The doctor told Deepa that the temporary immobility of her shoulder was normal after the operation.

同義詞
  • stillness

    more neutral and often peaceful; suggests absence of motion without implying injury

  • paralysis

    stronger term; specifically means the inability to move due to physical damage or disease

  • rigidity

    emphasises physical stiffness and resistance to bending rather than complete lack of motion

  • motionlessness

    purely descriptive; focuses on the observable fact of not moving

反義詞
  • mobility

    the direct opposite; freedom to move or be moved

  • movement

    more general term for the act of changing position

文法句型

adjective + immobility

immobility + of + body part / person

用法筆記

Often used with adjectives that describe how long the stillness lasts (e.g., 'prolonged', 'temporary') or how complete it is (e.g., 'total', 'complete').

常見錯誤

❌The doctor said I need to avoid immobility.
✅The doctor said I need to avoid staying still for too long.
💡'immobility' names the state itself, not the duration; use 'period of immobility' or rephrase with 'still'.

2. a situation in which progress or development has stopped, leaving conditions unc

2.名詞C1
釋義

a situation in which progress or development has stopped, leaving conditions unchanged over a long period of time

例句

Economic immobility trapped several generations of the same family in low-paid work.

collocation: economic immobility

Social immobility is often rooted in unequal access to good schools and healthcare.

collocation: social immobility

同義詞
  • stagnation

    very close in meaning; often used for economies or societies that fail to grow

  • inertia

    suggests a tendency to stay unchanged because of habit or resistance, not external barriers

  • deadlock

    implies a clash between two opposing forces that blocks progress

反義詞
  • progress

    forward movement or improvement in a system or society

  • development

    gradual growth or change toward a more advanced state

文法句型

adjective + immobility

immobility + of + system / institution

用法筆記

Commonly paired with adjectives that describe a particular domain, such as 'economic', 'social', 'political', or 'military'. This sense does not apply to individuals — it describes a system, institution, or society as a whole.

常見錯誤

❌He suffers from social immobility because he is poor.
✅The country's social immobility makes it hard for poor families to improve their lives.
💡'immobility' in this sense describes the structure of a system, not an individual's circumstances.